diff --git a/kernel/time/timekeeping.c b/kernel/time/timekeeping.c
index 340fef20bdcd..c7dcccc5f3d6 100644
--- a/kernel/time/timekeeping.c
+++ b/kernel/time/timekeeping.c
@@ -2639,7 +2639,8 @@ static int timekeeping_validate_timex(const struct __kernel_timex *txc, bool aux
 
 	if (aux_clock) {
 		/* Auxiliary clocks are similar to TAI and do not have leap seconds */
-		if (txc->status & (STA_INS | STA_DEL))
+		if (txc->modes & ADJ_STATUS &&
+		    txc->status & (STA_INS | STA_DEL))
 			return -EINVAL;
 
 		/* No TAI offset setting */
@@ -2647,7 +2648,8 @@ static int timekeeping_validate_timex(const struct __kernel_timex *txc, bool aux
 			return -EINVAL;
 
 		/* No PPS support either */
-		if (txc->status & (STA_PPSFREQ | STA_PPSTIME))
+		if (txc->modes & ADJ_STATUS &&
+		    txc->status & (STA_PPSFREQ | STA_PPSTIME))
 			return -EINVAL;
 	}