diff --git a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c
index 1f929e6c30be..98e39a17fb83 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c
@@ -763,6 +763,11 @@ static int i801_block_transaction(struct i801_priv *priv, union i2c_smbus_data *
 	int result = 0;
 	unsigned char hostc;
 
+	if (read_write == I2C_SMBUS_READ && command == I2C_SMBUS_BLOCK_DATA)
+		data->block[0] = I2C_SMBUS_BLOCK_MAX;
+	else if (data->block[0] < 1 || data->block[0] > I2C_SMBUS_BLOCK_MAX)
+		return -EPROTO;
+
 	if (command == I2C_SMBUS_I2C_BLOCK_DATA) {
 		if (read_write == I2C_SMBUS_WRITE) {
 			/* set I2C_EN bit in configuration register */
@@ -776,16 +781,6 @@ static int i801_block_transaction(struct i801_priv *priv, union i2c_smbus_data *
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (read_write == I2C_SMBUS_WRITE
-	 || command == I2C_SMBUS_I2C_BLOCK_DATA) {
-		if (data->block[0] < 1)
-			data->block[0] = 1;
-		if (data->block[0] > I2C_SMBUS_BLOCK_MAX)
-			data->block[0] = I2C_SMBUS_BLOCK_MAX;
-	} else {
-		data->block[0] = 32;	/* max for SMBus block reads */
-	}
-
 	/* Experience has shown that the block buffer can only be used for
 	   SMBus (not I2C) block transactions, even though the datasheet
 	   doesn't mention this limitation. */