diff --git a/drivers/display/display_st7735r.c b/drivers/display/display_st7735r.c
index 393d7153d14..7569e906ed8 100644
--- a/drivers/display/display_st7735r.c
+++ b/drivers/display/display_st7735r.c
@@ -182,18 +182,19 @@ static int st7735r_set_mem_area(const struct device *dev,
 
 	spi_data[0] = sys_cpu_to_be16(ram_x);
 	spi_data[1] = sys_cpu_to_be16(ram_x + w - 1);
-	ret = st7735r_transmit(dev, ST7735R_CMD_CASET, (uint8_t *)&spi_data[0], 4);
+	ret = st7735r_transmit_hold(dev, ST7735R_CMD_CASET, (uint8_t *)&spi_data[0], 4);
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		return ret;
 	}
 
 	spi_data[0] = sys_cpu_to_be16(ram_y);
 	spi_data[1] = sys_cpu_to_be16(ram_y + h - 1);
-	ret = st7735r_transmit(dev, ST7735R_CMD_RASET, (uint8_t *)&spi_data[0], 4);
+	ret = st7735r_transmit_hold(dev, ST7735R_CMD_RASET, (uint8_t *)&spi_data[0], 4);
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		return ret;
 	}
 
+	/* NB: CS still held - data transfer coming next */
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -220,7 +221,7 @@ static int st7735r_write(const struct device *dev,
 		desc->width, desc->height, x, y);
 	ret = st7735r_set_mem_area(dev, x, y, desc->width, desc->height);
 	if (ret < 0) {
-		return ret;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	if (desc->pitch > desc->width) {
@@ -231,11 +232,11 @@ static int st7735r_write(const struct device *dev,
 		nbr_of_writes = 1U;
 	}
 
-	ret = st7735r_transmit(dev, ST7735R_CMD_RAMWR,
-			       (void *) write_data_start,
-			       desc->width * ST7735R_PIXEL_SIZE * write_h);
+	ret = st7735r_transmit_hold(dev, ST7735R_CMD_RAMWR,
+				    (void *) write_data_start,
+				    desc->width * ST7735R_PIXEL_SIZE * write_h);
 	if (ret < 0) {
-		return ret;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	tx_bufs.buffers = &tx_buf;
@@ -247,13 +248,16 @@ static int st7735r_write(const struct device *dev,
 		tx_buf.len = desc->width * ST7735R_PIXEL_SIZE * write_h;
 		ret = spi_write_dt(&config->bus, &tx_bufs);
 		if (ret < 0) {
-			return ret;
+			goto out;
 		}
 
 		write_data_start += (desc->pitch * ST7735R_PIXEL_SIZE);
 	}
 
-	return 0;
+	ret = 0;
+out:
+	spi_release_dt(&config->bus);
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static void *st7735r_get_framebuffer(const struct device *dev)