diff --git a/nimble/controller/src/ble_ll_sched.c b/nimble/controller/src/ble_ll_sched.c
index 0fce0289f..70b8f2668 100644
--- a/nimble/controller/src/ble_ll_sched.c
+++ b/nimble/controller/src/ble_ll_sched.c
@@ -1112,6 +1112,11 @@ ble_ll_sched_rmv_elem_type(uint8_t type, sched_remove_cb_func remove_cb)
     OS_ENTER_CRITICAL(sr);
     first = TAILQ_FIRST(&g_ble_ll_sched_q);
 
+    if (!first) {
+        OS_EXIT_CRITICAL(sr);
+        return;
+    }
+
     TAILQ_FOREACH(entry, &g_ble_ll_sched_q, link) {
         if (entry->sched_type == type) {
             if (first == entry) {
@@ -1127,7 +1132,9 @@ ble_ll_sched_rmv_elem_type(uint8_t type, sched_remove_cb_func remove_cb)
 
     if (!first) {
         first = TAILQ_FIRST(&g_ble_ll_sched_q);
-        os_cputime_timer_start(&g_ble_ll_sched_timer, first->start_time);
+        if (first) {
+            os_cputime_timer_start(&g_ble_ll_sched_timer, first->start_time);
+        }
     }
 
     OS_EXIT_CRITICAL(sr);