diff --git a/drivers/spi/au1550_spi.c b/drivers/spi/au1550_spi.c
index 76cbc1a6659..cfd5ff9508f 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/au1550_spi.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/au1550_spi.c
@@ -237,8 +237,14 @@ static int au1550_spi_setupxfer(struct spi_device *spi, struct spi_transfer *t)
 	unsigned bpw, hz;
 	u32 cfg, stat;
 
-	bpw = t ? t->bits_per_word : spi->bits_per_word;
-	hz = t ? t->speed_hz : spi->max_speed_hz;
+	bpw = spi->bits_per_word;
+	hz = spi->max_speed_hz;
+	if (t) {
+		if (t->bits_per_word)
+			bpw = t->bits_per_word;
+		if (t->speed_hz)
+			hz = t->speed_hz;
+	}
 
 	if (bpw < 4 || bpw > 24) {
 		dev_err(&spi->dev, "setupxfer: invalid bits_per_word=%d\n",