diff --git a/kernel/timer.c b/kernel/timer.c
index dbaa624..317087d 100644
--- a/kernel/timer.c
+++ b/kernel/timer.c
@@ -427,6 +427,12 @@
 	}
 }
 
+/* Stub timer callback for improperly used timers. */
+static void stub_timer(unsigned long data)
+{
+	WARN_ON(1);
+}
+
 /*
  * fixup_activate is called when:
  * - an active object is activated
@@ -450,7 +456,8 @@
 			debug_object_activate(timer, &timer_debug_descr);
 			return 0;
 		} else {
-			WARN_ON_ONCE(1);
+			setup_timer(timer, stub_timer, 0);
+			return 1;
 		}
 		return 0;