diff --git a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c
index fced494040a8..4ffe06451081 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c
@@ -798,15 +798,15 @@ static unsigned short i2c_encode_flags_to_addr(struct i2c_client *client)
 
 /* This is a permissive address validity check, I2C address map constraints
  * are purposely not enforced, except for the general call address. */
-static int i2c_check_addr_validity(const struct i2c_client *client)
+static int i2c_check_addr_validity(unsigned addr, unsigned short flags)
 {
-	if (client->flags & I2C_CLIENT_TEN) {
+	if (flags & I2C_CLIENT_TEN) {
 		/* 10-bit address, all values are valid */
-		if (client->addr > 0x3ff)
+		if (addr > 0x3ff)
 			return -EINVAL;
 	} else {
 		/* 7-bit address, reject the general call address */
-		if (client->addr == 0x00 || client->addr > 0x7f)
+		if (addr == 0x00 || addr > 0x7f)
 			return -EINVAL;
 	}
 	return 0;
@@ -984,8 +984,7 @@ i2c_new_device(struct i2c_adapter *adap, struct i2c_board_info const *info)
 
 	strlcpy(client->name, info->type, sizeof(client->name));
 
-	/* Check for address validity */
-	status = i2c_check_addr_validity(client);
+	status = i2c_check_addr_validity(client->addr, client->flags);
 	if (status) {
 		dev_err(&adap->dev, "Invalid %d-bit I2C address 0x%02hx\n",
 			client->flags & I2C_CLIENT_TEN ? 10 : 7, client->addr);