diff --git a/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_ssi.c b/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_ssi.c
index 3c8dd609e42e..d4f1f0d64136 100644
--- a/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_ssi.c
+++ b/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_ssi.c
@@ -838,16 +838,16 @@ static int fsl_ssi_hw_params(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 	}
 
 	if (!fsl_ssi_is_ac97(ssi)) {
-		u8 i2s_net;
 		/* Normal + Network mode to send 16-bit data in 32-bit frames */
 		if (fsl_ssi_is_i2s_cbm_cfs(ssi) && sample_size == 16)
-			i2s_net = SSI_SCR_I2S_MODE_NORMAL | SSI_SCR_NET;
-		else
-			i2s_net = ssi->i2s_net;
+			ssi->i2s_net = SSI_SCR_I2S_MODE_NORMAL | SSI_SCR_NET;
+
+		/* Use Normal mode to send mono data at 1st slot of 2 slots */
+		if (channels == 1)
+			ssi->i2s_net = SSI_SCR_I2S_MODE_NORMAL;
 
 		regmap_update_bits(regs, REG_SSI_SCR,
-				   SSI_SCR_I2S_NET_MASK,
-				   channels == 1 ? 0 : i2s_net);
+				   SSI_SCR_I2S_NET_MASK, ssi->i2s_net);
 	}
 
 	/* In synchronous mode, the SSI uses STCCR for capture */