diff --git a/sound/soc/sh/rcar/core.c b/sound/soc/sh/rcar/core.c
index ab7e317bbed8..ce0a3a61c441 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sh/rcar/core.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sh/rcar/core.c
@@ -540,6 +540,14 @@ int rsnd_rdai_ssi_lane_ctrl(struct rsnd_dai *rdai,
 	return rdai->ssi_lane;
 }
 
+int rsnd_rdai_width_ctrl(struct rsnd_dai *rdai, int width)
+{
+	if (width > 0)
+		rdai->chan_width = width;
+
+	return rdai->chan_width;
+}
+
 struct rsnd_dai *rsnd_rdai_get(struct rsnd_priv *priv, int id)
 {
 	if ((id < 0) || (id >= rsnd_rdai_nr(priv)))
@@ -720,6 +728,16 @@ static int rsnd_soc_set_dai_tdm_slot(struct snd_soc_dai *dai,
 	struct rsnd_dai *rdai = rsnd_dai_to_rdai(dai);
 	struct device *dev = rsnd_priv_to_dev(priv);
 
+	switch (slot_width) {
+	case 16:
+	case 24:
+	case 32:
+		break;
+	default:
+		dev_err(dev, "unsupported slot width value: %d\n", slot_width);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	switch (slots) {
 	case 2:
 	case 6:
@@ -727,6 +745,7 @@ static int rsnd_soc_set_dai_tdm_slot(struct snd_soc_dai *dai,
 		/* TDM Extend Mode */
 		rsnd_rdai_channels_set(rdai, slots);
 		rsnd_rdai_ssi_lane_set(rdai, 1);
+		rsnd_rdai_width_set(rdai, slot_width);
 		break;
 	default:
 		dev_err(dev, "unsupported TDM slots (%d)\n", slots);
@@ -755,7 +774,7 @@ static unsigned int rsnd_soc_hw_rate_list[] = {
 	192000,
 };
 
-static int rsnd_soc_hw_rule(struct rsnd_priv *priv,
+static int rsnd_soc_hw_rule(struct rsnd_dai *rdai,
 			    unsigned int *list, int list_num,
 			    struct snd_interval *baseline, struct snd_interval *iv)
 {
@@ -772,14 +791,14 @@ static int rsnd_soc_hw_rule(struct rsnd_priv *priv,
 		if (!snd_interval_test(iv, list[i]))
 			continue;
 
-		rate = rsnd_ssi_clk_query(priv,
+		rate = rsnd_ssi_clk_query(rdai,
 					  baseline->min, list[i], NULL);
 		if (rate > 0) {
 			p.min = min(p.min, list[i]);
 			p.max = max(p.max, list[i]);
 		}
 
-		rate = rsnd_ssi_clk_query(priv,
+		rate = rsnd_ssi_clk_query(rdai,
 					  baseline->max, list[i], NULL);
 		if (rate > 0) {
 			p.min = min(p.min, list[i]);
@@ -799,7 +818,6 @@ static int __rsnd_soc_hw_rule_rate(struct snd_pcm_hw_params *params,
 	struct snd_interval ic;
 	struct snd_soc_dai *dai = rule->private;
 	struct rsnd_dai *rdai = rsnd_dai_to_rdai(dai);
-	struct rsnd_priv *priv = rsnd_rdai_to_priv(rdai);
 	struct rsnd_dai_stream *io = is_play ? &rdai->playback : &rdai->capture;
 
 	/*
@@ -811,7 +829,7 @@ static int __rsnd_soc_hw_rule_rate(struct snd_pcm_hw_params *params,
 	ic.min =
 	ic.max = rsnd_runtime_channel_for_ssi_with_params(io, params);
 
-	return rsnd_soc_hw_rule(priv, rsnd_soc_hw_rate_list,
+	return rsnd_soc_hw_rule(rdai, rsnd_soc_hw_rate_list,
 				ARRAY_SIZE(rsnd_soc_hw_rate_list),
 				&ic, ir);
 }
@@ -837,7 +855,6 @@ static int __rsnd_soc_hw_rule_channels(struct snd_pcm_hw_params *params,
 	struct snd_interval ic;
 	struct snd_soc_dai *dai = rule->private;
 	struct rsnd_dai *rdai = rsnd_dai_to_rdai(dai);
-	struct rsnd_priv *priv = rsnd_rdai_to_priv(rdai);
 	struct rsnd_dai_stream *io = is_play ? &rdai->playback : &rdai->capture;
 
 	/*
@@ -849,7 +866,7 @@ static int __rsnd_soc_hw_rule_channels(struct snd_pcm_hw_params *params,
 	ic.min =
 	ic.max = rsnd_runtime_channel_for_ssi_with_params(io, params);
 
-	return rsnd_soc_hw_rule(priv, rsnd_soc_hw_channels_list,
+	return rsnd_soc_hw_rule(rdai, rsnd_soc_hw_channels_list,
 				ARRAY_SIZE(rsnd_soc_hw_channels_list),
 				ir, &ic);
 }
@@ -1072,6 +1089,7 @@ static void __rsnd_dai_probe(struct rsnd_priv *priv,
 	rdai->capture.rdai		= rdai;
 	rsnd_rdai_channels_set(rdai, 2); /* default 2ch */
 	rsnd_rdai_ssi_lane_set(rdai, 1); /* default 1lane */
+	rsnd_rdai_width_set(rdai, 32);   /* default 32bit width */
 
 	for (io_i = 0;; io_i++) {
 		playback = of_parse_phandle(dai_np, "playback", io_i);
diff --git a/sound/soc/sh/rcar/rsnd.h b/sound/soc/sh/rcar/rsnd.h
index 96d93330b1e1..698b08155b06 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sh/rcar/rsnd.h
+++ b/sound/soc/sh/rcar/rsnd.h
@@ -460,6 +460,7 @@ struct rsnd_dai {
 
 	int max_channels;	/* 2ch - 16ch */
 	int ssi_lane;		/* 1lane - 4lane */
+	int chan_width;		/* 16/24/32 bit width */
 
 	unsigned int clk_master:1;
 	unsigned int bit_clk_inv:1;
@@ -493,6 +494,11 @@ int rsnd_rdai_channels_ctrl(struct rsnd_dai *rdai,
 int rsnd_rdai_ssi_lane_ctrl(struct rsnd_dai *rdai,
 			    int ssi_lane);
 
+#define rsnd_rdai_width_set(rdai, width) \
+	rsnd_rdai_width_ctrl(rdai, width)
+#define rsnd_rdai_width_get(rdai) \
+	rsnd_rdai_width_ctrl(rdai, 0)
+int rsnd_rdai_width_ctrl(struct rsnd_dai *rdai, int width);
 void rsnd_dai_period_elapsed(struct rsnd_dai_stream *io);
 int rsnd_dai_connect(struct rsnd_mod *mod,
 		     struct rsnd_dai_stream *io,
@@ -702,7 +708,7 @@ int __rsnd_ssi_is_pin_sharing(struct rsnd_mod *mod);
 void rsnd_parse_connect_ssi(struct rsnd_dai *rdai,
 			    struct device_node *playback,
 			    struct device_node *capture);
-unsigned int rsnd_ssi_clk_query(struct rsnd_priv *priv,
+unsigned int rsnd_ssi_clk_query(struct rsnd_dai *rdai,
 		       int param1, int param2, int *idx);
 
 /*
diff --git a/sound/soc/sh/rcar/ssi.c b/sound/soc/sh/rcar/ssi.c
index 8304e4ec9242..f707f53748bd 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sh/rcar/ssi.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sh/rcar/ssi.c
@@ -42,7 +42,13 @@
 #define	DWL_24		(5 << 19)	/* Data Word Length */
 #define	DWL_32		(6 << 19)	/* Data Word Length */
 
+/*
+ * System word length
+ */
+#define	SWL_16		(1 << 16)	/* R/W System Word Length */
+#define	SWL_24		(2 << 16)	/* R/W System Word Length */
 #define	SWL_32		(3 << 16)	/* R/W System Word Length */
+
 #define	SCKD		(1 << 15)	/* Serial Bit Clock Direction */
 #define	SWSD		(1 << 14)	/* Serial WS Direction */
 #define	SCKP		(1 << 13)	/* Serial Bit Clock Polarity */
@@ -220,14 +226,32 @@ u32 rsnd_ssi_multi_slaves_runtime(struct rsnd_dai_stream *io)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-unsigned int rsnd_ssi_clk_query(struct rsnd_priv *priv,
+static u32 rsnd_rdai_width_to_swl(struct rsnd_dai *rdai)
+{
+	struct rsnd_priv *priv = rsnd_rdai_to_priv(rdai);
+	struct device *dev = rsnd_priv_to_dev(priv);
+	int width = rsnd_rdai_width_get(rdai);
+
+	switch (width) {
+	case 32: return SWL_32;
+	case 24: return SWL_24;
+	case 16: return SWL_16;
+	}
+
+	dev_err(dev, "unsupported slot width value: %d\n", width);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+unsigned int rsnd_ssi_clk_query(struct rsnd_dai *rdai,
 		       int param1, int param2, int *idx)
 {
+	struct rsnd_priv *priv = rsnd_rdai_to_priv(rdai);
 	int ssi_clk_mul_table[] = {
 		1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 6, 12,
 	};
 	int j, ret;
 	unsigned int main_rate;
+	int width = rsnd_rdai_width_get(rdai);
 
 	for (j = 0; j < ARRAY_SIZE(ssi_clk_mul_table); j++) {
 
@@ -240,12 +264,7 @@ unsigned int rsnd_ssi_clk_query(struct rsnd_priv *priv,
 		if (j == 0)
 			continue;
 
-		/*
-		 * this driver is assuming that
-		 * system word is 32bit x chan
-		 * see rsnd_ssi_init()
-		 */
-		main_rate = 32 * param1 * param2 * ssi_clk_mul_table[j];
+		main_rate = width * param1 * param2 * ssi_clk_mul_table[j];
 
 		ret = rsnd_adg_clk_query(priv, main_rate);
 		if (ret < 0)
@@ -292,7 +311,7 @@ static int rsnd_ssi_master_clk_start(struct rsnd_mod *mod,
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	main_rate = rsnd_ssi_clk_query(priv, rate, chan, &idx);
+	main_rate = rsnd_ssi_clk_query(rdai, rate, chan, &idx);
 	if (!main_rate) {
 		dev_err(dev, "unsupported clock rate\n");
 		return -EIO;
@@ -312,7 +331,8 @@ static int rsnd_ssi_master_clk_start(struct rsnd_mod *mod,
 	 * SSICR  : FORCE, SCKD, SWSD
 	 * SSIWSR : CONT
 	 */
-	ssi->cr_clk = FORCE | SWL_32 | SCKD | SWSD | CKDV(idx);
+	ssi->cr_clk = FORCE | rsnd_rdai_width_to_swl(rdai) |
+			SCKD | SWSD | CKDV(idx);
 	ssi->wsr = CONT;
 	ssi->rate = rate;
 
@@ -357,11 +377,7 @@ static void rsnd_ssi_config_init(struct rsnd_mod *mod,
 
 	is_tdm = rsnd_runtime_is_ssi_tdm(io);
 
-	/*
-	 * always use 32bit system word.
-	 * see also rsnd_ssi_master_clk_enable()
-	 */
-	cr_own |= FORCE | SWL_32;
+	cr_own |= FORCE | rsnd_rdai_width_to_swl(rdai);
 
 	if (rdai->bit_clk_inv)
 		cr_own |= SCKP;
@@ -494,7 +510,17 @@ static int rsnd_ssi_hw_params(struct rsnd_mod *mod,
 			      struct snd_pcm_hw_params *params)
 {
 	struct rsnd_ssi *ssi = rsnd_mod_to_ssi(mod);
+	struct rsnd_dai *rdai = rsnd_io_to_rdai(io);
 	int chan = params_channels(params);
+	unsigned int fmt_width = snd_pcm_format_width(params_format(params));
+
+	if (fmt_width > rdai->chan_width) {
+		struct rsnd_priv *priv = rsnd_io_to_priv(io);
+		struct device *dev = rsnd_priv_to_dev(priv);
+
+		dev_err(dev, "invalid combination of slot-width and format-data-width\n");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * snd_pcm_ops::hw_params will be called *before*