diff --git a/ports/rp2/machine_rtc.c b/ports/rp2/machine_rtc.c
index 8ead51af13..797bee5ed3 100644
--- a/ports/rp2/machine_rtc.c
+++ b/ports/rp2/machine_rtc.c
@@ -100,7 +100,9 @@ STATIC mp_obj_t machine_rtc_datetime(mp_uint_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args) {
             .sec = mp_obj_get_int(items[6]),
         };
 
-        rtc_set_datetime(&t);
+        if (!rtc_set_datetime(&t)) {
+            mp_raise_OSError(MP_EINVAL);
+        }
 
     }
     return mp_const_none;