diff --git a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-rcar.c b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-rcar.c
index 36c79301044b..dcf9fc77cec7 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-rcar.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-rcar.c
@@ -458,8 +458,8 @@ static irqreturn_t rcar_i2c_irq(int irq, void *ptr)
 
 	/* Nack */
 	if (msr & MNR) {
-		/* go to stop phase */
-		rcar_i2c_write(priv, ICMCR, RCAR_BUS_PHASE_STOP);
+		/* HW automatically sends STOP after received NACK */
+		rcar_i2c_write(priv, ICMCR, RCAR_BUS_PHASE_DATA);
 		rcar_i2c_write(priv, ICMIER, RCAR_IRQ_STOP);
 		rcar_i2c_flags_set(priv, ID_NACK);
 		goto out;