diff --git a/drivers/platform/x86/intel_scu_ipc.c b/drivers/platform/x86/intel_scu_ipc.c
index 3271f81a9c00..a68df4133403 100644
--- a/drivers/platform/x86/intel_scu_ipc.c
+++ b/drivers/platform/x86/intel_scu_ipc.c
@@ -265,6 +265,24 @@ static int intel_scu_ipc_check_status(struct intel_scu_ipc_dev *scu)
 	return scu->irq > 0 ? ipc_wait_for_interrupt(scu) : busy_loop(scu);
 }
 
+static struct intel_scu_ipc_dev *intel_scu_ipc_get(struct intel_scu_ipc_dev *scu)
+{
+	u8 status;
+
+	if (!scu)
+		scu = ipcdev;
+	if (!scu)
+		return ERR_PTR(-ENODEV);
+
+	status = ipc_read_status(scu);
+	if (status & IPC_STATUS_BUSY) {
+		dev_dbg(&scu->dev, "device is busy\n");
+		return ERR_PTR(-EBUSY);
+	}
+
+	return scu;
+}
+
 /* Read/Write power control(PMIC in Langwell, MSIC in PenWell) registers */
 static int pwr_reg_rdwr(struct intel_scu_ipc_dev *scu, u16 *addr, u8 *data,
 			u32 count, u32 op, u32 id)
@@ -278,11 +296,10 @@ static int pwr_reg_rdwr(struct intel_scu_ipc_dev *scu, u16 *addr, u8 *data,
 	memset(cbuf, 0, sizeof(cbuf));
 
 	mutex_lock(&ipclock);
-	if (!scu)
-		scu = ipcdev;
-	if (!scu) {
+	scu = intel_scu_ipc_get(scu);
+	if (IS_ERR(scu)) {
 		mutex_unlock(&ipclock);
-		return -ENODEV;
+		return PTR_ERR(scu);
 	}
 
 	for (nc = 0; nc < count; nc++, offset += 2) {
@@ -437,12 +454,12 @@ int intel_scu_ipc_dev_simple_command(struct intel_scu_ipc_dev *scu, int cmd,
 	int err;
 
 	mutex_lock(&ipclock);
-	if (!scu)
-		scu = ipcdev;
-	if (!scu) {
+	scu = intel_scu_ipc_get(scu);
+	if (IS_ERR(scu)) {
 		mutex_unlock(&ipclock);
-		return -ENODEV;
+		return PTR_ERR(scu);
 	}
+
 	cmdval = sub << 12 | cmd;
 	ipc_command(scu, cmdval);
 	err = intel_scu_ipc_check_status(scu);
@@ -482,11 +499,10 @@ int intel_scu_ipc_dev_command_with_size(struct intel_scu_ipc_dev *scu, int cmd,
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	mutex_lock(&ipclock);
-	if (!scu)
-		scu = ipcdev;
-	if (!scu) {
+	scu = intel_scu_ipc_get(scu);
+	if (IS_ERR(scu)) {
 		mutex_unlock(&ipclock);
-		return -ENODEV;
+		return PTR_ERR(scu);
 	}
 
 	memcpy(inbuf, in, inlen);