diff --git a/drivers/regulator/lp3972.c b/drivers/regulator/lp3972.c
index 3a7e96e2c7b3..ff0c275f902e 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/lp3972.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/lp3972.c
@@ -211,8 +211,8 @@ static int lp3972_set_bits(struct lp3972 *lp3972, u8 reg, u16 mask, u16 val)
 	mutex_lock(&lp3972->io_lock);
 
 	ret = lp3972_i2c_read(lp3972->i2c, reg, 1, &tmp);
-	tmp = (tmp & ~mask) | val;
 	if (ret == 0) {
+		tmp = (tmp & ~mask) | val;
 		ret = lp3972_i2c_write(lp3972->i2c, reg, 1, &tmp);
 		dev_dbg(lp3972->dev, "reg write 0x%02x -> 0x%02x\n", (int)reg,
 			(unsigned)val & 0xff);