diff --git a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-imx.c b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-imx.c
index d549d630b41a..49859ee494c6 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-imx.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-imx.c
@@ -930,9 +930,6 @@ static int i2c_imx_reg_slave(struct i2c_client *client)
 	if (i2c_imx->slave)
 		return -EBUSY;
 
-	i2c_imx->slave = client;
-	i2c_imx->last_slave_event = I2C_SLAVE_STOP;
-
 	/* Resume */
 	ret = pm_runtime_resume_and_get(i2c_imx->adapter.dev.parent);
 	if (ret < 0) {
@@ -940,6 +937,11 @@ static int i2c_imx_reg_slave(struct i2c_client *client)
 		return ret;
 	}
 
+	scoped_guard(spinlock_irqsave, &i2c_imx->slave_lock) {
+		i2c_imx->slave = client;
+		i2c_imx->last_slave_event = I2C_SLAVE_STOP;
+	}
+
 	i2c_imx_slave_init(i2c_imx);
 
 	return 0;