diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi.c b/drivers/spi/spi.c
index c2899161ccac..2a20c32c8277 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi.c
@@ -1382,8 +1382,13 @@ static int __spi_async(struct spi_device *spi, struct spi_message *message)
 	list_for_each_entry(xfer, &message->transfers, transfer_list) {
 		if (!xfer->bits_per_word)
 			xfer->bits_per_word = spi->bits_per_word;
-		if (!xfer->speed_hz)
+		if (!xfer->speed_hz) {
 			xfer->speed_hz = spi->max_speed_hz;
+			if (master->max_speed_hz &&
+			    xfer->speed_hz > master->max_speed_hz)
+				xfer->speed_hz = master->max_speed_hz;
+		}
+
 		if (master->bits_per_word_mask) {
 			/* Only 32 bits fit in the mask */
 			if (xfer->bits_per_word > 32)