diff --git a/drivers/i2c/i2c-slave-testunit.c b/drivers/i2c/i2c-slave-testunit.c
index a5dcbc3c2c14..ca43e98cae1b 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/i2c-slave-testunit.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/i2c-slave-testunit.c
@@ -121,6 +121,9 @@ static int i2c_slave_testunit_slave_cb(struct i2c_client *client,
 		break;
 
 	case I2C_SLAVE_WRITE_REQUESTED:
+		if (test_bit(TU_FLAG_IN_PROCESS, &tu->flags))
+			return -EBUSY;
+
 		memset(tu->regs, 0, TU_NUM_REGS);
 		tu->reg_idx = 0;
 		break;