diff --git a/hw/i2c/aspeed_i2c.c b/hw/i2c/aspeed_i2c.c
index e21f45d968..c7929aa285 100644
--- a/hw/i2c/aspeed_i2c.c
+++ b/hw/i2c/aspeed_i2c.c
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@
 #define I2C_CTRL_STATUS         0x00        /* Device Interrupt Status */
 #define I2C_CTRL_ASSIGN         0x08        /* Device Interrupt Target
                                                Assignment */
+#define I2C_CTRL_GLOBAL         0x0C        /* Global Control Register */
+#define   I2C_CTRL_SRAM_EN                 BIT(0)
 
 /* I2C Device (Bus) Register */
 
@@ -271,6 +273,29 @@ static uint8_t aspeed_i2c_get_addr(AspeedI2CBus *bus)
     }
 }
 
+static bool aspeed_i2c_check_sram(AspeedI2CBus *bus)
+{
+    AspeedI2CState *s = bus->controller;
+    AspeedI2CClass *aic = ASPEED_I2C_GET_CLASS(s);
+
+    if (!aic->check_sram) {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /*
+     * AST2500: SRAM must be enabled before using the Buffer Pool or
+     * DMA mode.
+     */
+    if (!(s->ctrl_global & I2C_CTRL_SRAM_EN) &&
+        (bus->cmd & (I2CD_RX_DMA_ENABLE | I2CD_TX_DMA_ENABLE |
+                     I2CD_RX_BUFF_ENABLE | I2CD_TX_BUFF_ENABLE))) {
+        qemu_log_mask(LOG_GUEST_ERROR, "%s: SRAM is not enabled\n", __func__);
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
+
 /*
  * The state machine needs some refinement. It is only used to track
  * invalid STOP commands for the moment.
@@ -282,6 +307,10 @@ static void aspeed_i2c_bus_handle_cmd(AspeedI2CBus *bus, uint64_t value)
     bus->cmd &= ~0xFFFF;
     bus->cmd |= value & 0xFFFF;
 
+    if (!aspeed_i2c_check_sram(bus)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (bus->cmd & I2CD_M_START_CMD) {
         uint8_t state = aspeed_i2c_get_state(bus) & I2CD_MACTIVE ?
             I2CD_MSTARTR : I2CD_MSTART;
@@ -436,6 +465,8 @@ static uint64_t aspeed_i2c_ctrl_read(void *opaque, hwaddr offset,
     switch (offset) {
     case I2C_CTRL_STATUS:
         return s->intr_status;
+    case I2C_CTRL_GLOBAL:
+        return s->ctrl_global;
     default:
         qemu_log_mask(LOG_GUEST_ERROR, "%s: Bad offset 0x%" HWADDR_PRIx "\n",
                       __func__, offset);
@@ -448,7 +479,12 @@ static uint64_t aspeed_i2c_ctrl_read(void *opaque, hwaddr offset,
 static void aspeed_i2c_ctrl_write(void *opaque, hwaddr offset,
                                   uint64_t value, unsigned size)
 {
+    AspeedI2CState *s = opaque;
+
     switch (offset) {
+    case I2C_CTRL_GLOBAL:
+        s->ctrl_global = value;
+        break;
     case I2C_CTRL_STATUS:
     default:
         qemu_log_mask(LOG_GUEST_ERROR, "%s: Bad offset 0x%" HWADDR_PRIx "\n",
@@ -684,6 +720,7 @@ static void aspeed_2500_i2c_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
     aic->pool_size = 0x100;
     aic->pool_base = 0x200;
     aic->bus_pool_base = aspeed_2500_i2c_bus_pool_base;
+    aic->check_sram = true;
 }
 
 static const TypeInfo aspeed_2500_i2c_info = {
diff --git a/include/hw/i2c/aspeed_i2c.h b/include/hw/i2c/aspeed_i2c.h
index 5313d07aa7..7a555072df 100644
--- a/include/hw/i2c/aspeed_i2c.h
+++ b/include/hw/i2c/aspeed_i2c.h
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ typedef struct AspeedI2CState {
     qemu_irq irq;
 
     uint32_t intr_status;
+    uint32_t ctrl_global;
     MemoryRegion pool_iomem;
     uint8_t pool[ASPEED_I2C_MAX_POOL_SIZE];
 
@@ -83,6 +84,8 @@ typedef struct AspeedI2CClass {
     uint64_t pool_size;
     hwaddr pool_base;
     uint8_t *(*bus_pool_base)(AspeedI2CBus *);
+    bool check_sram;
+
 } AspeedI2CClass;
 
 I2CBus *aspeed_i2c_get_bus(DeviceState *dev, int busnr);