diff --git a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.h b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.h
index 05b8b8dfa9bd..36587f38dff3 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.h
+++ b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
  * i2c-core.h - interfaces internal to the I2C framework
  */
 
+#include <linux/kconfig.h>
 #include <linux/rwsem.h>
 
 struct i2c_devinfo {
@@ -29,7 +30,8 @@ int i2c_dev_irq_from_resources(const struct resource *resources,
  */
 static inline bool i2c_in_atomic_xfer_mode(void)
 {
-	return system_state > SYSTEM_RUNNING && !preemptible();
+	return system_state > SYSTEM_RUNNING &&
+	       (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_PREEMPT_COUNT) ? !preemptible() : irqs_disabled());
 }
 
 static inline int __i2c_lock_bus_helper(struct i2c_adapter *adap)