Embodiments of the present invention provide a technique to correct timing mark position error in self-servo write (SSW). In one embodiment, a method of correcting a timing mark position error of a SSW pattern of a disk drive comprises writing a plurality of timing mark bursts over a plurality of steps on a disk, the plurality of timing mark bursts including at least one misaligned burst having an intentional misalignment in a first step with respect to a corresponding burst in a neighboring second step; reading the misaligned burst and the corresponding burst at a seam between the first step and the second step to obtain a measured burst amplitude; and using the measure burst amplitude to obtain a timing mark position error, which may involve comparing the measured burst amplitude and an expected burst amplitude computed based on the intentional misalignment between the misaligned burst and the corresponding burst to obtain a timing mark position error.