diff --git a/sched/timer/timer_create.c b/sched/timer/timer_create.c
index 40016f8fe6f..57b9800bc33 100644
--- a/sched/timer/timer_create.c
+++ b/sched/timer/timer_create.c
@@ -164,7 +164,9 @@ int timer_create(clockid_t clockid, FAR struct sigevent *evp,
   /* Sanity checks. */
 
   if (timerid == NULL || (clockid != CLOCK_REALTIME &&
-      clockid != CLOCK_MONOTONIC && clockid != CLOCK_BOOTTIME))
+      clockid != CLOCK_MONOTONIC && clockid != CLOCK_BOOTTIME) ||
+      (evp != NULL && evp->sigev_notify == SIGEV_SIGNAL &&
+       !GOOD_SIGNO(evp->sigev_signo)))
     {
       set_errno(EINVAL);
       return ERROR;