diff --git a/drivers/iio/light/cm3323.c b/drivers/iio/light/cm3323.c
index 79ad6e2209ca..0fe61b8a7029 100644
--- a/drivers/iio/light/cm3323.c
+++ b/drivers/iio/light/cm3323.c
@@ -89,15 +89,14 @@ static int cm3323_init(struct iio_dev *indio_dev)
 
 	/* enable sensor and set auto force mode */
 	ret &= ~(CM3323_CONF_SD_BIT | CM3323_CONF_AF_BIT);
+	data->reg_conf = ret;
 
-	ret = i2c_smbus_write_word_data(data->client, CM3323_CMD_CONF, ret);
+	ret = i2c_smbus_write_word_data(data->client, CM3323_CMD_CONF, data->reg_conf);
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		dev_err(&data->client->dev, "Error writing reg_conf\n");
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	data->reg_conf = ret;
-
 	return 0;
 }