diff --git a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-imx.c b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-imx.c
index cfd1e63359e7..d5e6e2eca3b3 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-imx.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-imx.c
@@ -1061,11 +1061,28 @@ static inline enum imx_i2c_state i2c_imx_isr_read_continue(struct imx_i2c_struct
 static inline void i2c_imx_isr_read_block_data_len(struct imx_i2c_struct *i2c_imx)
 {
 	u8 len = imx_i2c_read_reg(i2c_imx, IMX_I2C_I2DR);
+	unsigned int temp;
 
 	if (len == 0 || len > I2C_SMBUS_BLOCK_MAX) {
+		/*
+		 * SMBus 3.1 6.5.7: support count byte of 0.
+		 * I2C_SMBUS_BLOCK_MAX case should not hold the SDA either.
+		 * So NACK it (TXAK) to not hold the bus.
+		 */
+		temp = imx_i2c_read_reg(i2c_imx, IMX_I2C_I2CR);
+		temp |= I2CR_TXAK;
+		imx_i2c_write_reg(temp, i2c_imx, IMX_I2C_I2CR);
+
+		if (len == 0) {
+			i2c_imx->msg->buf[i2c_imx->msg_buf_idx++] = 0;
+			i2c_imx->msg->len = 2;
+			return;
+		}
+
 		i2c_imx->isr_result = -EPROTO;
 		i2c_imx->state = IMX_I2C_STATE_FAILED;
 		wake_up(&i2c_imx->queue);
+		return;
 	}
 	i2c_imx->msg->len += len;
 	i2c_imx->msg->buf[i2c_imx->msg_buf_idx++] = len;