diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi_mpc83xx.c b/drivers/spi/spi_mpc83xx.c
index 3295cfcc9f20..0b99fd9f5171 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi_mpc83xx.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi_mpc83xx.c
@@ -176,6 +176,8 @@ static void mpc83xx_spi_chipselect(struct spi_device *spi, int value)
 			regval |= SPMODE_PM(pm);
 		}
 
+		/* Turn off SPI unit prior changing mode */
+		mpc83xx_spi_write_reg(&mpc83xx_spi->base->mode, 0);
 		mpc83xx_spi_write_reg(&mpc83xx_spi->base->mode, regval);
 		if (mpc83xx_spi->activate_cs)
 			mpc83xx_spi->activate_cs(spi->chip_select, pol);
@@ -249,6 +251,8 @@ int mpc83xx_spi_setup_transfer(struct spi_device *spi, struct spi_transfer *t)
 	regval &= 0xff0fffff;
 	regval |= SPMODE_LEN(bits_per_word);
 
+	/* Turn off SPI unit prior changing mode */
+	mpc83xx_spi_write_reg(&mpc83xx_spi->base->mode, 0);
 	mpc83xx_spi_write_reg(&mpc83xx_spi->base->mode, regval);
 
 	return 0;