diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-npcm-pspi.c b/drivers/spi/spi-npcm-pspi.c
index fe624731c74c..d224aa63dbce 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-npcm-pspi.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-npcm-pspi.c
@@ -178,6 +178,13 @@ static void npcm_pspi_setup_transfer(struct spi_device *spi,
 		priv->mode = spi->mode;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * If transfer is even length, and 8 bits per word transfer,
+	 * then implement 16 bits-per-word transfer.
+	 */
+	if (priv->bits_per_word == 8 && !(t->len & 0x1))
+		t->bits_per_word = 16;
+
 	if (!priv->is_save_param || priv->bits_per_word != t->bits_per_word) {
 		npcm_pspi_set_transfer_size(priv, t->bits_per_word);
 		priv->bits_per_word = t->bits_per_word;