diff --git a/drivers/iio/magnetometer/ak8975.c b/drivers/iio/magnetometer/ak8975.c
index 3303feb54984..a2bd9e10235a 100644
--- a/drivers/iio/magnetometer/ak8975.c
+++ b/drivers/iio/magnetometer/ak8975.c
@@ -673,22 +673,8 @@ static int ak8975_start_read_axis(struct ak8975_data *data,
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;
 
-	/* This will be executed only for non-interrupt based waiting case */
-	if (ret & data->def->ctrl_masks[ST1_DRDY]) {
-		ret = i2c_smbus_read_byte_data(client,
-					       data->def->ctrl_regs[ST2]);
-		if (ret < 0) {
-			dev_err(&client->dev, "Error in reading ST2\n");
-			return ret;
-		}
-		if (ret & (data->def->ctrl_masks[ST2_DERR] |
-			   data->def->ctrl_masks[ST2_HOFL])) {
-			dev_err(&client->dev, "ST2 status error 0x%x\n", ret);
-			return -EINVAL;
-		}
-	}
-
-	return 0;
+	/* Return with zero if the data is ready. */
+	return !data->def->ctrl_regs[ST1_DRDY];
 }
 
 /* Retrieve raw flux value for one of the x, y, or z axis.  */
@@ -715,6 +701,20 @@ static int ak8975_read_axis(struct iio_dev *indio_dev, int index, int *val)
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto exit;
 
+	/* Read out ST2 for release lock on measurment data. */
+	ret = i2c_smbus_read_byte_data(client, data->def->ctrl_regs[ST2]);
+	if (ret < 0) {
+		dev_err(&client->dev, "Error in reading ST2\n");
+		goto exit;
+	}
+
+	if (ret & (data->def->ctrl_masks[ST2_DERR] |
+		   data->def->ctrl_masks[ST2_HOFL])) {
+		dev_err(&client->dev, "ST2 status error 0x%x\n", ret);
+		ret = -EINVAL;
+		goto exit;
+	}
+
 	mutex_unlock(&data->lock);
 
 	pm_runtime_mark_last_busy(&data->client->dev);