diff --git a/kernel/time/posix-cpu-timers.c b/kernel/time/posix-cpu-timers.c
index e6358342c84c..cf4bd1f9d74c 100644
--- a/kernel/time/posix-cpu-timers.c
+++ b/kernel/time/posix-cpu-timers.c
@@ -1505,7 +1505,7 @@ void run_posix_cpu_timers(void)
 	 * posix_cpu_timer_del() may fail to lock_task_sighand(tsk) and
 	 * miss timer->it.cpu.firing != 0.
 	 */
-	if (tsk->exit_state)
+	if (tsk->flags & PF_EXITING)
 		return;
 
 	/*