diff --git a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-gpio.c b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-gpio.c
index d9f7e186a4c7..02d2d4abb9dd 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-gpio.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-gpio.c
@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@ static int of_i2c_gpio_get_pins(struct device_node *np,
 	*sda_pin = of_get_gpio(np, 0);
 	*scl_pin = of_get_gpio(np, 1);
 
+	if (*sda_pin == -EPROBE_DEFER || *scl_pin == -EPROBE_DEFER)
+		return -EPROBE_DEFER;
+
 	if (!gpio_is_valid(*sda_pin) || !gpio_is_valid(*scl_pin)) {
 		pr_err("%s: invalid GPIO pins, sda=%d/scl=%d\n",
 		       np->full_name, *sda_pin, *scl_pin);