diff --git a/drivers/ptp/ptp_private.h b/drivers/ptp/ptp_private.h
index d0eb4555720eb..b8d4f61f14be4 100644
--- a/drivers/ptp/ptp_private.h
+++ b/drivers/ptp/ptp_private.h
@@ -89,7 +89,17 @@ static inline int queue_cnt(const struct timestamp_event_queue *q)
 /* Check if ptp virtual clock is in use */
 static inline bool ptp_vclock_in_use(struct ptp_clock *ptp)
 {
-	return !ptp->is_virtual_clock;
+	bool in_use = false;
+
+	if (mutex_lock_interruptible(&ptp->n_vclocks_mux))
+		return true;
+
+	if (!ptp->is_virtual_clock && ptp->n_vclocks)
+		in_use = true;
+
+	mutex_unlock(&ptp->n_vclocks_mux);
+
+	return in_use;
 }
 
 /* Check if ptp clock shall be free running */