diff --git a/drivers/net/can/flexcan.c b/drivers/net/can/flexcan.c
index ee2d4967d66a..e66a51dbea0a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/flexcan.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/flexcan.c
@@ -1865,10 +1865,14 @@ static int register_flexcandev(struct net_device *dev)
 	if (err)
 		goto out_chip_disable;
 
-	/* set freeze, halt and activate FIFO, restrict register access */
+	/* set freeze, halt */
+	err = flexcan_chip_freeze(priv);
+	if (err)
+		goto out_chip_disable;
+
+	/* activate FIFO, restrict register access */
 	reg = priv->read(&regs->mcr);
-	reg |= FLEXCAN_MCR_FRZ | FLEXCAN_MCR_HALT |
-		FLEXCAN_MCR_FEN | FLEXCAN_MCR_SUPV;
+	reg |=  FLEXCAN_MCR_FEN | FLEXCAN_MCR_SUPV;
 	priv->write(reg, &regs->mcr);
 
 	/* Currently we only support newer versions of this core