diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-virtio.c b/drivers/spi/spi-virtio.c
index 2256dfec5407..3e181bd8bc94 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-virtio.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-virtio.c
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ static int virtio_spi_transfer_one(struct spi_controller *ctrl,
 
 	/* Fill struct spi_transfer_head */
 	th->chip_select_id = spi_get_chipselect(spi, 0);
-	th->bits_per_word = spi->bits_per_word;
+	th->bits_per_word = xfer->bits_per_word;
 	th->cs_change = xfer->cs_change;
 	th->tx_nbits = xfer->tx_nbits;
 	th->rx_nbits = xfer->rx_nbits;