diff --git a/sound/soc/intel/boards/bxt_rt298.c b/sound/soc/intel/boards/bxt_rt298.c
index 176c080a9818..1a68d043c803 100644
--- a/sound/soc/intel/boards/bxt_rt298.c
+++ b/sound/soc/intel/boards/bxt_rt298.c
@@ -274,12 +274,15 @@ static int bxt_fe_startup(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream)
 	 * on this platform for PCM device we support:
 	 *      48Khz
 	 *      stereo
+	 *	16-bit audio
 	 */
 
 	runtime->hw.channels_max = 2;
 	snd_pcm_hw_constraint_list(runtime, 0, SNDRV_PCM_HW_PARAM_CHANNELS,
 				&constraints_channels);
 
+	runtime->hw.formats = SNDRV_PCM_FMTBIT_S16_LE;
+	snd_pcm_hw_constraint_msbits(runtime, 0, 16, 16);
 	snd_pcm_hw_constraint_list(runtime, 0,
 				SNDRV_PCM_HW_PARAM_RATE, &constraints_rates);