diff --git a/kernel/time/posix-timers.c b/kernel/time/posix-timers.c
index aa3120104a51..eee6b36b67ba 100644
--- a/kernel/time/posix-timers.c
+++ b/kernel/time/posix-timers.c
@@ -564,6 +564,7 @@ static int do_timer_create(clockid_t which_clock, struct sigevent *event,
 	 * After unlocking @new_timer is subject to concurrent removal and
 	 * cannot be touched anymore
 	 */
+	posix_timer_unhash_and_free(new_timer);
 	return 0;
 out:
 	posix_timer_unhash_and_free(new_timer);