diff --git a/drivers/hwtracing/intel_th/core.c b/drivers/hwtracing/intel_th/core.c
index da962aa2cef5..4e70ecee2103 100644
--- a/drivers/hwtracing/intel_th/core.c
+++ b/drivers/hwtracing/intel_th/core.c
@@ -139,7 +139,8 @@ static int intel_th_remove(struct device *dev)
 			th->thdev[i] = NULL;
 		}
 
-		th->num_thdevs = lowest;
+		if (lowest >= 0)
+			th->num_thdevs = lowest;
 	}
 
 	if (thdrv->attr_group)