diff --git a/drivers/spi/kirkwood_spi.c b/drivers/spi/kirkwood_spi.c
index 063ed5f35a..bc5da0a1e6 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/kirkwood_spi.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/kirkwood_spi.c
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ static int mvebu_spi_set_speed(struct udevice *bus, uint hz)
 	u32 data, divider;
 	unsigned int spr, sppr;
 
-	if (hz > spi->max_hz) {
+	if (spi->max_hz && (hz > spi->max_hz)) {
 		debug("%s: limit speed to the max_hz of the bus %d\n",
 		      __func__, spi->max_hz);
 		hz = spi->max_hz;