This paper deals with the stability problem of linear delayed systems containing two unstable real poles by means of PD controllers. The analysis presented is based on frequency domain techniques. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of stabilising controllers are given in terms of the parameters of the system and the time delay size. The main result is extended to delayed systems with two unstable poles and n stable real poles. PID controllers are also considered in order to control the studied systems, obtaining similar stability conditions. Numerical examples are presented in order to illustrate the control performance.