diff --git a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c
index 32a45260c1f3c..d43db2c3876e7 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c
@@ -1424,7 +1424,7 @@ int i2c_handle_smbus_host_notify(struct i2c_adapter *adap, unsigned short addr)
 	if (irq <= 0)
 		return -ENXIO;
 
-	generic_handle_irq(irq);
+	generic_handle_irq_safe(irq);
 
 	return 0;
 }