diff --git a/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/x86_64/timer.cc b/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/x86_64/timer.cc
index b75b25b5c..fe008d633 100644
--- a/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/x86_64/timer.cc
+++ b/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/x86_64/timer.cc
@@ -56,18 +56,25 @@ uint32_t Timer_driver::pit_calc_timer_freq(void)
 Timer_driver::Timer_driver(unsigned)
 : Mmio(Platform::mmio_to_virt(Hw::Cpu_memory_map::MMIO_LAPIC_BASE))
 {
-	write<Divide_configuration::Divide_value>(
-		Divide_configuration::Divide_value::MAX);
-
 	/* Enable LAPIC timer in one-shot mode */
 	write<Tmr_lvt::Vector>(Board::TIMER_VECTOR_KERNEL);
 	write<Tmr_lvt::Delivery>(0);
 	write<Tmr_lvt::Mask>(0);
 	write<Tmr_lvt::Timer_mode>(0);
 
-	/* Calculate timer frequency */
-	ticks_per_ms = pit_calc_timer_freq();
-	assert(ticks_per_ms >= TIMER_MIN_TICKS_PER_MS);
+	/* calibrate LAPIC frequency to fullfill our requirements */
+	for (Divide_configuration::access_t div = Divide_configuration::Divide_value::MAX;
+	     div && ticks_per_ms < TIMER_MIN_TICKS_PER_MS; div--)
+	{
+		if (!div){
+			error("Failed to calibrate timer frequency");
+			throw Calibration_failed();
+		}
+		write<Divide_configuration::Divide_value>(div);
+
+		/* Calculate timer frequency */
+		ticks_per_ms = pit_calc_timer_freq();
+	}
 }
 
 
diff --git a/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/x86_64/timer_driver.h b/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/x86_64/timer_driver.h
index ac95fd0de..6b9dbca77 100644
--- a/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/x86_64/timer_driver.h
+++ b/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/x86_64/timer_driver.h
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ struct Kernel::Timer_driver : Genode::Mmio
 		};
 	};
 
+	struct Calibration_failed : Genode::Exception { };
+
 	Genode::uint32_t ticks_per_ms = 0;
 
 	/* Measure LAPIC timer frequency using PIT channel 2 */