diff --git a/target/arm/helper.c b/target/arm/helper.c
index 5074b5f69c..31fab098c5 100644
--- a/target/arm/helper.c
+++ b/target/arm/helper.c
@@ -2486,9 +2486,10 @@ static void gt_recalc_timer(ARMCPU *cpu, int timeridx)
          * timer expires we will reset the timer for any remaining period.
          */
         if (nexttick > INT64_MAX / GTIMER_SCALE) {
-            nexttick = INT64_MAX / GTIMER_SCALE;
+            timer_mod_ns(cpu->gt_timer[timeridx], INT64_MAX);
+        } else {
+            timer_mod(cpu->gt_timer[timeridx], nexttick);
         }
-        timer_mod(cpu->gt_timer[timeridx], nexttick);
         trace_arm_gt_recalc(timeridx, irqstate, nexttick);
     } else {
         /* Timer disabled: ISTATUS and timer output always clear */