diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_core.c b/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_core.c
index 3cf5c98013e4..547afde9fdda 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_core.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_core.c
@@ -2088,8 +2088,8 @@ int serial8250_do_startup(struct uart_port *port)
 	/*
 	 * Clear the interrupt registers.
 	 */
-	serial_port_in(port, UART_LSR);
-	serial_port_in(port, UART_RX);
+	if (serial_port_in(port, UART_LSR) & UART_LSR_DR)
+		serial_port_in(port, UART_RX);
 	serial_port_in(port, UART_IIR);
 	serial_port_in(port, UART_MSR);
 
@@ -2250,8 +2250,8 @@ dont_test_tx_en:
 	 * saved flags to avoid getting false values from polling
 	 * routines or the previous session.
 	 */
-	serial_port_in(port, UART_LSR);
-	serial_port_in(port, UART_RX);
+	if (serial_port_in(port, UART_LSR) & UART_LSR_DR)
+		serial_port_in(port, UART_RX);
 	serial_port_in(port, UART_IIR);
 	serial_port_in(port, UART_MSR);
 	up->lsr_saved_flags = 0;
@@ -2344,7 +2344,8 @@ void serial8250_do_shutdown(struct uart_port *port)
 	 * Read data port to reset things, and then unlink from
 	 * the IRQ chain.
 	 */
-	serial_port_in(port, UART_RX);
+	if (serial_port_in(port, UART_LSR) & UART_LSR_DR)
+		serial_port_in(port, UART_RX);
 	serial8250_rpm_put(up);
 
 	del_timer_sync(&up->timer);