diff --git a/drivers/slimbus/qcom-ctrl.c b/drivers/slimbus/qcom-ctrl.c
index fb1a5e0eb8dd..2d67419a3c37 100644
--- a/drivers/slimbus/qcom-ctrl.c
+++ b/drivers/slimbus/qcom-ctrl.c
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ static int qcom_xfer_msg(struct slim_controller *sctrl,
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!retries && !pbuf)
+	if (retries < 0 && !pbuf)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	puc = (u8 *)pbuf;