diff --git a/drivers/i3c/master.c b/drivers/i3c/master.c
index ee771ac0b203..83e04a2c202a 100644
--- a/drivers/i3c/master.c
+++ b/drivers/i3c/master.c
@@ -347,8 +347,10 @@ static int i3c_device_match(struct device *dev, const struct device_driver *drv)
 	i3cdev = dev_to_i3cdev(dev);
 	i3cdrv = drv_to_i3cdrv(drv);
 
-	if (i3cdev->desc && i3cdev->desc->boardinfo)
+	i3c_bus_normaluse_lock(i3cdev->bus);
+	if (i3cdev->desc->boardinfo)
 		static_addr_method = i3cdev->desc->boardinfo->static_addr_method;
+	i3c_bus_normaluse_unlock(i3cdev->bus);
 
 	/*
 	 * SETAASA-based devices need not always have a matching ID since