diff --git a/drivers/cpuidle/cpuidle.c b/drivers/cpuidle/cpuidle.c
index 3e146b2ada4a..a71376a45d8e 100644
--- a/drivers/cpuidle/cpuidle.c
+++ b/drivers/cpuidle/cpuidle.c
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ static cpuidle_enter_t cpuidle_enter_ops;
 /**
  * cpuidle_play_dead - cpu off-lining
  *
- * Only returns in case of an error
+ * Returns in case of an error or no driver
  */
 int cpuidle_play_dead(void)
 {
@@ -83,6 +83,9 @@ int cpuidle_play_dead(void)
 	int i, dead_state = -1;
 	int power_usage = -1;
 
+	if (!drv)
+		return -ENODEV;
+
 	/* Find lowest-power state that supports long-term idle */
 	for (i = CPUIDLE_DRIVER_STATE_START; i < drv->state_count; i++) {
 		struct cpuidle_state *s = &drv->states[i];