diff --git a/drivers/i3c/i3c_mcux.c b/drivers/i3c/i3c_mcux.c
index f3bd50d9b2..70fd991c4e 100644
--- a/drivers/i3c/i3c_mcux.c
+++ b/drivers/i3c/i3c_mcux.c
@@ -1031,7 +1031,7 @@ static int mcux_i3c_do_one_xfer(I3C_Type *base, struct mcux_i3c_data *data,
 		ret = mcux_i3c_do_one_xfer_write(base, buf, buf_sz, no_ending);
 	}
 
-	if (ret) {
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		goto out_one_xfer;
 	}