diff --git a/drivers/nfc/nxp-nci/i2c.c b/drivers/nfc/nxp-nci/i2c.c
index 7eab97585f22..a4f1a981e2dd 100644
--- a/drivers/nfc/nxp-nci/i2c.c
+++ b/drivers/nfc/nxp-nci/i2c.c
@@ -180,6 +180,9 @@ static int nxp_nci_i2c_nci_read(struct nxp_nci_i2c_phy *phy,
 	memcpy(skb_put(*skb, NCI_CTRL_HDR_SIZE), (void *) &header,
 	       NCI_CTRL_HDR_SIZE);
 
+	if (!header.plen)
+		return 0;
+
 	r = i2c_master_recv(client, skb_put(*skb, header.plen), header.plen);
 	if (r != header.plen) {
 		nfc_err(&client->dev,