diff --git a/target/s390x/tcg/misc_helper.c b/target/s390x/tcg/misc_helper.c
index 6d9d601d29..215b5b9d93 100644
--- a/target/s390x/tcg/misc_helper.c
+++ b/target/s390x/tcg/misc_helper.c
@@ -199,11 +199,15 @@ static void update_ckc_timer(CPUS390XState *env)
         return;
     }
 
-    /* difference between origins */
-    time = env->ckc - td->base.low;
+    if (env->ckc < td->base.low) {
+        time = 0;
+    } else {
+        /* difference between origins */
+        time = env->ckc - td->base.low;
 
-    /* nanoseconds */
-    time = tod2time(time);
+        /* nanoseconds */
+        time = tod2time(time);
+    }
 
     timer_mod(env->tod_timer, time);
 }