diff --git a/drivers/net/can/flexcan.c b/drivers/net/can/flexcan.c
index edabafa2a4ac..b6d00dfa8b8f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/flexcan.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/flexcan.c
@@ -1057,10 +1057,13 @@ static int flexcan_chip_start(struct net_device *dev)
 
 	flexcan_set_bittiming(dev);
 
+	/* set freeze, halt */
+	err = flexcan_chip_freeze(priv);
+	if (err)
+		goto out_chip_disable;
+
 	/* MCR
 	 *
-	 * enable freeze
-	 * halt now
 	 * only supervisor access
 	 * enable warning int
 	 * enable individual RX masking
@@ -1069,9 +1072,8 @@ static int flexcan_chip_start(struct net_device *dev)
 	 */
 	reg_mcr = priv->read(&regs->mcr);
 	reg_mcr &= ~FLEXCAN_MCR_MAXMB(0xff);
-	reg_mcr |= FLEXCAN_MCR_FRZ | FLEXCAN_MCR_HALT | FLEXCAN_MCR_SUPV |
-		FLEXCAN_MCR_WRN_EN | FLEXCAN_MCR_IRMQ | FLEXCAN_MCR_IDAM_C |
-		FLEXCAN_MCR_MAXMB(priv->tx_mb_idx);
+	reg_mcr |= FLEXCAN_MCR_SUPV | FLEXCAN_MCR_WRN_EN | FLEXCAN_MCR_IRMQ |
+		FLEXCAN_MCR_IDAM_C | FLEXCAN_MCR_MAXMB(priv->tx_mb_idx);
 
 	/* MCR
 	 *