diff --git a/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c b/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c
index fba27c36d707..0a1bf6b032ea 100644
--- a/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c
+++ b/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c
@@ -1530,6 +1530,9 @@ struct thermal_zone_device *thermal_zone_device_register(const char *type,
 	if (!ops || !ops->get_temp)
 		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 
+	if (trips > 0 && !ops->get_trip_type)
+		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
+
 	tz = kzalloc(sizeof(struct thermal_zone_device), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!tz)
 		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);