diff --git a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-sh_mobile.c b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-sh_mobile.c
index 279d0e5bd433..b965d52338ba 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-sh_mobile.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-sh_mobile.c
@@ -602,8 +602,8 @@ static void sh_mobile_i2c_xfer_dma(struct sh_mobile_i2c_data *pd)
 	dma_async_issue_pending(chan);
 }
 
-static int start_ch(struct sh_mobile_i2c_data *pd, struct i2c_msg *usr_msg,
-		    bool do_init)
+static void start_ch(struct sh_mobile_i2c_data *pd, struct i2c_msg *usr_msg,
+		     bool do_init)
 {
 	if (do_init) {
 		/* Initialize channel registers */
@@ -627,7 +627,6 @@ static int start_ch(struct sh_mobile_i2c_data *pd, struct i2c_msg *usr_msg,
 
 	/* Enable all interrupts to begin with */
 	iic_wr(pd, ICIC, ICIC_DTEE | ICIC_WAITE | ICIC_ALE | ICIC_TACKE);
-	return 0;
 }
 
 static int poll_dte(struct sh_mobile_i2c_data *pd)
@@ -698,9 +697,7 @@ static int sh_mobile_i2c_xfer(struct i2c_adapter *adapter,
 		pd->send_stop = i == num - 1 || msg->flags & I2C_M_STOP;
 		pd->stop_after_dma = false;
 
-		err = start_ch(pd, msg, do_start);
-		if (err)
-			break;
+		start_ch(pd, msg, do_start);
 
 		if (do_start)
 			i2c_op(pd, OP_START, 0);