diff --git a/drivers/thermal/thermal_core.c b/drivers/thermal/thermal_core.c
index 90e38cc199f4..64de09861c05 100644
--- a/drivers/thermal/thermal_core.c
+++ b/drivers/thermal/thermal_core.c
@@ -553,7 +553,8 @@ void thermal_zone_device_update(struct thermal_zone_device *tz,
 	if (atomic_read(&in_suspend))
 		return;
 
-	if (!tz->ops->get_temp)
+	if (WARN_ONCE(!tz->ops->get_temp, "'%s' must not be called without "
+		      "'get_temp' ops set\n", __func__))
 		return;
 
 	update_temperature(tz);