diff --git a/kernel/time/posix-cpu-timers.c b/kernel/time/posix-cpu-timers.c
index 6bcee4704059..d44641108ba8 100644
--- a/kernel/time/posix-cpu-timers.c
+++ b/kernel/time/posix-cpu-timers.c
@@ -1400,6 +1400,15 @@ void run_posix_cpu_timers(void)
 
 	lockdep_assert_irqs_disabled();
 
+	/*
+	 * Ensure that release_task(tsk) can't happen while
+	 * handle_posix_cpu_timers() is running. Otherwise, a concurrent
+	 * posix_cpu_timer_del() may fail to lock_task_sighand(tsk) and
+	 * miss timer->it.cpu.firing != 0.
+	 */
+	if (tsk->exit_state)
+		return;
+
 	/*
 	 * If the actual expiry is deferred to task work context and the
 	 * work is already scheduled there is no point to do anything here.