diff --git a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-cadence.c b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-cadence.c
index b5d22e7282c227a1fb29d8dc43dc2bc3aacf8779..982c207d473b777512443de33877c0fc102f9f17 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-cadence.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-cadence.c
@@ -827,8 +827,10 @@ static int cdns_i2c_master_xfer(struct i2c_adapter *adap, struct i2c_msg *msgs,
 #if IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_I2C_SLAVE)
 	/* Check i2c operating mode and switch if possible */
 	if (id->dev_mode == CDNS_I2C_MODE_SLAVE) {
-		if (id->slave_state != CDNS_I2C_SLAVE_STATE_IDLE)
-			return -EAGAIN;
+		if (id->slave_state != CDNS_I2C_SLAVE_STATE_IDLE) {
+			ret = -EAGAIN;
+			goto out;
+		}
 
 		/* Set mode to master */
 		cdns_i2c_set_mode(CDNS_I2C_MODE_MASTER, id);