diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi.c b/drivers/spi/spi.c
index c4dd1200fe99..3d4dddd1b456 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi.c
@@ -3513,13 +3513,18 @@ int spi_setup(struct spi_device *spi)
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	if (!spi->bits_per_word)
+	if (!spi->bits_per_word) {
 		spi->bits_per_word = 8;
-
-	status = __spi_validate_bits_per_word(spi->controller,
-					      spi->bits_per_word);
-	if (status)
-		return status;
+	} else {
+		/*
+		 * Some controllers may not support the default 8 bits-per-word
+		 * so only perform the check when this is explicitly provided.
+		 */
+		status = __spi_validate_bits_per_word(spi->controller,
+						      spi->bits_per_word);
+		if (status)
+			return status;
+	}
 
 	if (spi->controller->max_speed_hz &&
 	    (!spi->max_speed_hz ||