diff --git a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c
index 30b725d11178..8ecba1ca9236 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c
@@ -519,9 +519,11 @@ static int i801_block_transaction_by_block(struct i801_priv *priv,
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
 	}
 
+	/* Set block buffer mode */
+	outb_p(inb_p(SMBAUXCTL(priv)) | SMBAUXCTL_E32B, SMBAUXCTL(priv));
+
 	inb_p(SMBHSTCNT(priv)); /* reset the data buffer index */
 
-	/* Use 32-byte buffer to process this transaction */
 	if (read_write == I2C_SMBUS_WRITE) {
 		len = data->block[0];
 		outb_p(len, SMBHSTDAT0(priv));
@@ -747,14 +749,6 @@ exit:
 	return i801_check_post(priv, status);
 }
 
-static int i801_set_block_buffer_mode(struct i801_priv *priv)
-{
-	outb_p(inb_p(SMBAUXCTL(priv)) | SMBAUXCTL_E32B, SMBAUXCTL(priv));
-	if ((inb_p(SMBAUXCTL(priv)) & SMBAUXCTL_E32B) == 0)
-		return -EIO;
-	return 0;
-}
-
 /* Block transaction function */
 static int i801_block_transaction(struct i801_priv *priv, union i2c_smbus_data *data,
 				  char read_write, int command)
@@ -783,9 +777,8 @@ static int i801_block_transaction(struct i801_priv *priv, union i2c_smbus_data *
 	/* Experience has shown that the block buffer can only be used for
 	   SMBus (not I2C) block transactions, even though the datasheet
 	   doesn't mention this limitation. */
-	if ((priv->features & FEATURE_BLOCK_BUFFER)
-	 && command != I2C_SMBUS_I2C_BLOCK_DATA
-	 && i801_set_block_buffer_mode(priv) == 0)
+	if ((priv->features & FEATURE_BLOCK_BUFFER) &&
+	    command != I2C_SMBUS_I2C_BLOCK_DATA)
 		result = i801_block_transaction_by_block(priv, data,
 							 read_write,
 							 command);