diff --git a/drivers/i3c/master.c b/drivers/i3c/master.c
index 5c0cb3f38c90..fe6f956cc311 100644
--- a/drivers/i3c/master.c
+++ b/drivers/i3c/master.c
@@ -619,7 +619,8 @@ static int i3c_set_hotjoin(struct i3c_master_controller *master, bool enable)
 	else
 		ret = master->ops->disable_hotjoin(master);
 
-	master->hotjoin = enable;
+	if (!ret)
+		master->hotjoin = enable;
 
 	i3c_bus_normaluse_unlock(&master->bus);