diff --git a/drivers/i3c/master/dw-i3c-master.c b/drivers/i3c/master/dw-i3c-master.c
index e9b2c23ed171..cfc15aaf8c7b 100644
--- a/drivers/i3c/master/dw-i3c-master.c
+++ b/drivers/i3c/master/dw-i3c-master.c
@@ -1106,6 +1106,7 @@ static int dw_i3c_master_i2c_xfers(struct i2c_dev_desc *dev,
 		dev_err(master->dev,
 			"<%s> cannot resume i3c bus master, err: %d\n",
 			__func__, ret);
+		dw_i3c_master_free_xfer(xfer);
 		return ret;
 	}