diff --git a/python/sdist/amici/de_model_components.py b/python/sdist/amici/de_model_components.py
index 85af284716..bfea153009 100644
--- a/python/sdist/amici/de_model_components.py
+++ b/python/sdist/amici/de_model_components.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
     cast_to_sym,
     generate_measurement_symbol,
     generate_regularization_symbol,
+    contains_periodic_subexpression,
 )
 from .constants import SymbolId
 
@@ -753,11 +754,18 @@ def __init__(
         self._use_values_from_trigger_time = use_values_from_trigger_time
 
         # expression(s) for the timepoint(s) at which the event triggers
-        try:
-            self._t_root = sp.solve(self.get_val(), amici_time_symbol)
-        except NotImplementedError:
-            # the trigger can't be solved for `t`
-            self._t_root = []
+        self._t_root = []
+
+        if not contains_periodic_subexpression(
+            self.get_val(), amici_time_symbol
+        ):
+            # `solve` will solve, e.g., sin(t), but will only return [0, pi],
+            #  so we better skip any periodic expressions here
+            try:
+                self._t_root = sp.solve(self.get_val(), amici_time_symbol)
+            except NotImplementedError:
+                # the trigger can't be solved for `t`
+                pass
 
     def get_state_update(
         self, x: sp.Matrix, x_old: sp.Matrix
@@ -841,6 +849,13 @@ def get_trigger_times(self) -> set[sp.Expr]:
 
         Returns a set of expressions, which may contain multiple time points
         for events that trigger at multiple time points.
+
+        If the return value is empty, the trigger function cannot be solved
+        for `t`. I.e., the event does not explicitly depend on time,
+        or sympy is unable to solve the trigger function for `t`.
+
+        If the return value is non-empty, it contains expressions for *all*
+        time points at which the event triggers.
         """
         return set(self._t_root)
 
diff --git a/python/sdist/amici/import_utils.py b/python/sdist/amici/import_utils.py
index 7549eb6f1d..6ca7b1a10b 100644
--- a/python/sdist/amici/import_utils.py
+++ b/python/sdist/amici/import_utils.py
@@ -816,3 +816,18 @@ def _default_simplify(x):
     # We need this as a free function instead of a lambda to have it picklable
     #  for parallel simplification
     return sp.powsimp(x, deep=True)
+
+
+def contains_periodic_subexpression(expr: sp.Expr, symbol: sp.Symbol) -> bool:
+    """
+    Check if a sympy expression contains any periodic subexpression.
+
+    :param expr: The sympy expression to check.
+    :param symbol: The variable with respect to which periodicity is checked.
+    :return: `True` if the expression contains a periodic subexpression,
+        `False` otherwise.
+    """
+    for subexpr in expr.atoms(sp.Function):
+        if sp.periodicity(subexpr, symbol) is not None:
+            return True
+    return False
diff --git a/python/tests/test_sbml_import.py b/python/tests/test_sbml_import.py
index 8d2546f3a5..09e6ad4cc1 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_sbml_import.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_sbml_import.py
@@ -1143,3 +1143,16 @@ def test_t0(tempdir):
     solver = model.getSolver()
     rdata = amici.runAmiciSimulation(model, solver)
     assert rdata.x == [[2.0]], rdata.x
+
+
+@skip_on_valgrind
+def test_contains_periodic_subexpression():
+    """Test that periodic subexpressions are detected."""
+    from amici.import_utils import contains_periodic_subexpression as cps
+
+    t = sp.Symbol("t")
+
+    assert cps(t, t) is False
+    assert cps(sp.sin(t), t) is True
+    assert cps(sp.cos(t), t) is True
+    assert cps(t + sp.sin(t), t) is True