diff --git a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-designware-slave.c b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-designware-slave.c
index 25fa33927124..78d8fb73927d 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-designware-slave.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-designware-slave.c
@@ -177,6 +177,8 @@ static int i2c_dw_reg_slave(struct i2c_client *slave)
 		return -EBUSY;
 	if (slave->flags & I2C_CLIENT_TEN)
 		return -EAFNOSUPPORT;
+	pm_runtime_get_sync(dev->dev);
+
 	/*
 	 * Set slave address in the IC_SAR register,
 	 * the address to which the DW_apb_i2c responds.
@@ -205,6 +207,7 @@ static int i2c_dw_unreg_slave(struct i2c_client *slave)
 	dev->disable_int(dev);
 	dev->disable(dev);
 	dev->slave = NULL;
+	pm_runtime_put(dev->dev);
 
 	return 0;
 }