diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/smarthome/core/cache/ExpiringCache.java b/bundles/org.openhab.core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/smarthome/core/cache/ExpiringCache.java
index 381dcf44b..29838af5e 100755
--- a/bundles/org.openhab.core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/smarthome/core/cache/ExpiringCache.java
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.core/src/main/java/org/eclipse/smarthome/core/cache/ExpiringCache.java
@@ -43,8 +43,12 @@ public class ExpiringCache<V> {
      *
      * @param expiry the duration for how long the value stays valid
      * @param action the action to retrieve/calculate the value
+     * @throws IllegalArgumentException For an expire value <=0.
      */
     public ExpiringCache(Duration expiry, Supplier<@Nullable V> action) {
+        if (expiry.isNegative() || expiry.isZero()) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Cache expire time must be greater than 0");
+        }
         this.expiry = expiry.toNanos();
         this.action = action;
     }