diff --git a/drivers/rtc/interface.c b/drivers/rtc/interface.c
index 544be72..c2eff60 100644
--- a/drivers/rtc/interface.c
+++ b/drivers/rtc/interface.c
@@ -584,6 +584,9 @@
 void rtc_update_irq(struct rtc_device *rtc,
 		unsigned long num, unsigned long events)
 {
+	if (unlikely(IS_ERR_OR_NULL(rtc)))
+		return;
+
 	pm_stay_awake(rtc->dev.parent);
 	schedule_work(&rtc->irqwork);
 }