diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
index 776b7e9e23b9..f28df233dfcd 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
@@ -307,6 +307,9 @@ static void nvmet_keep_alive_timer(struct work_struct *work)
 
 static void nvmet_start_keep_alive_timer(struct nvmet_ctrl *ctrl)
 {
+	if (unlikely(ctrl->kato == 0))
+		return;
+
 	pr_debug("ctrl %d start keep-alive timer for %d secs\n",
 		ctrl->cntlid, ctrl->kato);
 
@@ -316,6 +319,9 @@ static void nvmet_start_keep_alive_timer(struct nvmet_ctrl *ctrl)
 
 static void nvmet_stop_keep_alive_timer(struct nvmet_ctrl *ctrl)
 {
+	if (unlikely(ctrl->kato == 0))
+		return;
+
 	pr_debug("ctrl %d stop keep-alive\n", ctrl->cntlid);
 
 	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&ctrl->ka_work);