diff --git a/sound/core/timer.c b/sound/core/timer.c
index e08a37c23add..38f3b30efae7 100644
--- a/sound/core/timer.c
+++ b/sound/core/timer.c
@@ -553,6 +553,16 @@ static int snd_timer_start1(struct snd_timer_instance *timeri,
 		goto unlock;
 	}
 
+	/* check the actual time for the start tick;
+	 * bail out as error if it's way too low (< 100us)
+	 */
+	if (start) {
+		if ((u64)snd_timer_hw_resolution(timer) * ticks < 100000) {
+			result = -EINVAL;
+			goto unlock;
+		}
+	}
+
 	if (start)
 		timeri->ticks = timeri->cticks = ticks;
 	else if (!timeri->cticks)