diff --git a/drivers/i2c/i2c_max32.c b/drivers/i2c/i2c_max32.c
index db370b9955b..8fdbe71de6c 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/i2c_max32.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/i2c_max32.c
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ static int api_configure(const struct device *dev, uint32_t dev_cfg)
 		return -ENOTSUP;
 	}
 
-	return ret;
+	return ((ret > 0) ? 0 : -EIO);
 }
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_I2C_TARGET
diff --git a/drivers/i2c/i2c_max32_rtio.c b/drivers/i2c/i2c_max32_rtio.c
index 40ceeffdd41..5cd7a41ac1b 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/i2c_max32_rtio.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/i2c_max32_rtio.c
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ static int max32_do_configure(const struct device *dev, uint32_t dev_cfg)
 		return -ENOTSUP;
 	}
 
-	return ret;
+	return ((ret > 0) ? 0 : -EIO);
 }
 
 static void max32_complete(const struct device *dev, int status);