diff --git a/drivers/iio/proximity/vl53l0x-i2c.c b/drivers/iio/proximity/vl53l0x-i2c.c
index 9fe14ceb8be7..173e69753df7 100644
--- a/drivers/iio/proximity/vl53l0x-i2c.c
+++ b/drivers/iio/proximity/vl53l0x-i2c.c
@@ -219,7 +219,10 @@ static int vl53l0x_read_raw(struct iio_dev *indio_dev,
 
 	switch (mask) {
 	case IIO_CHAN_INFO_RAW:
+		if (!iio_device_claim_direct(indio_dev))
+			return -EBUSY;
 		ret = vl53l0x_read_proximity(data, chan, val);
+		iio_device_release_direct(indio_dev);
 		if (ret < 0)
 			return ret;