diff --git a/drivers/platform/chrome/cros_ec_proto.c b/drivers/platform/chrome/cros_ec_proto.c
index 97a068dff192..3bb954997ebc 100644
--- a/drivers/platform/chrome/cros_ec_proto.c
+++ b/drivers/platform/chrome/cros_ec_proto.c
@@ -56,6 +56,17 @@ static int send_command(struct cros_ec_device *ec_dev,
 	else
 		xfer_fxn = ec_dev->cmd_xfer;
 
+	if (!xfer_fxn) {
+		/*
+		 * This error can happen if a communication error happened and
+		 * the EC is trying to use protocol v2, on an underlying
+		 * communication mechanism that does not support v2.
+		 */
+		dev_err_once(ec_dev->dev,
+			     "missing EC transfer API, cannot send command\n");
+		return -EIO;
+	}
+
 	ret = (*xfer_fxn)(ec_dev, msg);
 	if (msg->result == EC_RES_IN_PROGRESS) {
 		int i;