diff --git a/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_sai.c b/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_sai.c
index 38c7bcbb361d..b2d65e53dbc4 100644
--- a/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_sai.c
+++ b/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_sai.c
@@ -489,6 +489,10 @@ static int fsl_sai_hw_params(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 
 	val_cr4 |= FSL_SAI_CR4_FRSZ(slots);
 
+	/* Set to output mode to avoid tri-stated data pins */
+	if (tx)
+		val_cr4 |= FSL_SAI_CR4_CHMOD;
+
 	/*
 	 * For SAI master mode, when Tx(Rx) sync with Rx(Tx) clock, Rx(Tx) will
 	 * generate bclk and frame clock for Tx(Rx), we should set RCR4(TCR4),
@@ -497,7 +501,8 @@ static int fsl_sai_hw_params(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 
 	if (!sai->is_slave_mode && fsl_sai_dir_is_synced(sai, adir)) {
 		regmap_update_bits(sai->regmap, FSL_SAI_xCR4(!tx, ofs),
-				   FSL_SAI_CR4_SYWD_MASK | FSL_SAI_CR4_FRSZ_MASK,
+				   FSL_SAI_CR4_SYWD_MASK | FSL_SAI_CR4_FRSZ_MASK |
+				   FSL_SAI_CR4_CHMOD_MASK,
 				   val_cr4);
 		regmap_update_bits(sai->regmap, FSL_SAI_xCR5(!tx, ofs),
 				   FSL_SAI_CR5_WNW_MASK | FSL_SAI_CR5_W0W_MASK |
@@ -508,7 +513,8 @@ static int fsl_sai_hw_params(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 			   FSL_SAI_CR3_TRCE_MASK,
 			   FSL_SAI_CR3_TRCE((1 << pins) - 1));
 	regmap_update_bits(sai->regmap, FSL_SAI_xCR4(tx, ofs),
-			   FSL_SAI_CR4_SYWD_MASK | FSL_SAI_CR4_FRSZ_MASK,
+			   FSL_SAI_CR4_SYWD_MASK | FSL_SAI_CR4_FRSZ_MASK |
+			   FSL_SAI_CR4_CHMOD_MASK,
 			   val_cr4);
 	regmap_update_bits(sai->regmap, FSL_SAI_xCR5(tx, ofs),
 			   FSL_SAI_CR5_WNW_MASK | FSL_SAI_CR5_W0W_MASK |
diff --git a/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_sai.h b/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_sai.h
index 5f630be74853..736a437450c8 100644
--- a/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_sai.h
+++ b/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_sai.h
@@ -119,6 +119,8 @@
 #define FSL_SAI_CR4_FRSZ_MASK	(0x1f << 16)
 #define FSL_SAI_CR4_SYWD(x)	(((x) - 1) << 8)
 #define FSL_SAI_CR4_SYWD_MASK	(0x1f << 8)
+#define FSL_SAI_CR4_CHMOD       BIT(5)
+#define FSL_SAI_CR4_CHMOD_MASK  BIT(5)
 #define FSL_SAI_CR4_MF		BIT(4)
 #define FSL_SAI_CR4_FSE		BIT(3)
 #define FSL_SAI_CR4_FSP		BIT(1)