diff --git a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c
index 9079be0d51d1..2bdb8bc4cc82 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c
@@ -1872,13 +1872,18 @@ static int i2c_check_for_quirks(struct i2c_adapter *adap, struct i2c_msg *msgs,
  * Returns negative errno, else the number of messages executed.
  *
  * Adapter lock must be held when calling this function. No debug logging
- * takes place. adap->algo->master_xfer existence isn't checked.
+ * takes place.
  */
 int __i2c_transfer(struct i2c_adapter *adap, struct i2c_msg *msgs, int num)
 {
 	unsigned long orig_jiffies;
 	int ret, try;
 
+	if (!adap->algo->master_xfer) {
+		dev_dbg(&adap->dev, "I2C level transfers not supported\n");
+		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
+	}
+
 	if (WARN_ON(!msgs || num < 1))
 		return -EINVAL;