diff --git a/cpu/efm32/periph/timer_series2.c b/cpu/efm32/periph/timer_series2.c
index 4b877cfb0ddd..114c4343a418 100644
--- a/cpu/efm32/periph/timer_series2.c
+++ b/cpu/efm32/periph/timer_series2.c
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ static inline void _letimer_start(tim_t dev)
 {
     LETIMER_TypeDef *tim = timer_config[dev].dev;
 
-    if (tim->STATUS & LETIMER_STATUS_RUNNING) {
+    if (!(tim->STATUS & LETIMER_STATUS_RUNNING)) {
         pm_block(LETIMER_PM_BLOCKER);
     }
 
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ static inline void _timer_start(tim_t dev)
 {
     TIMER_TypeDef *tim = timer_config[dev].dev;
 
-    if (tim->STATUS & TIMER_STATUS_RUNNING) {
+    if (!(tim->STATUS & TIMER_STATUS_RUNNING)) {
         pm_block(TIMER_PM_BLOCKER);
     }