diff --git a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c
index 38af186..f850206 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c
@@ -1946,7 +1946,7 @@
 	 *    one (discarding status on the second message) or errno
 	 *    (discarding status on the first one).
 	 */
-	if (in_atomic() || irqs_disabled()) {
+	if (i2c_in_atomic_xfer_mode()) {
 		ret = i2c_trylock_bus(adap, I2C_LOCK_SEGMENT);
 		if (!ret)
 			/* I2C activity is ongoing. */
diff --git a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.h b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.h
index 37576f5..9d85264 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.h
+++ b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.h
@@ -29,6 +29,16 @@
 
 int i2c_check_7bit_addr_validity_strict(unsigned short addr);
 
+/*
+ * We only allow atomic transfers for very late communication, e.g. to send
+ * the powerdown command to a PMIC. Atomic transfers are a corner case and not
+ * for generic use!
+ */
+static inline bool i2c_in_atomic_xfer_mode(void)
+{
+	return system_state > SYSTEM_RUNNING && irqs_disabled();
+}
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_ACPI
 const struct acpi_device_id *
 i2c_acpi_match_device(const struct acpi_device_id *matches,