diff --git a/drivers/sensor/fxos8700/fxos8700.c b/drivers/sensor/fxos8700/fxos8700.c
index 1c2e0532972..54afeca1748 100644
--- a/drivers/sensor/fxos8700/fxos8700.c
+++ b/drivers/sensor/fxos8700/fxos8700.c
@@ -69,9 +69,20 @@ int fxos8700_set_odr(const struct device *dev, const struct sensor_value *val)
 
 	LOG_DBG("Set ODR to 0x%x", (uint8_t)dr);
 
+	/*
+	 * Modify FXOS8700_REG_CTRLREG1 can only occur when the device
+	 * is in standby mode.
+	 */
+	if (fxos8700_set_power(dev, FXOS8700_POWER_STANDBY)) {
+		LOG_ERR("Could not set standby");
+		return -EIO;
+	}
+
+	/* Change the attribute and activate the device. */
 	return i2c_reg_update_byte(data->i2c, config->i2c_address,
-				   FXOS8700_REG_CTRLREG1,
-				   FXOS8700_CTRLREG1_DR_MASK, (uint8_t)dr);
+		FXOS8700_REG_CTRLREG1,
+		FXOS8700_CTRLREG1_DR_MASK | FXOS8700_CTRLREG1_ACTIVE_MASK,
+		(uint8_t)dr | FXOS8700_POWER_ACTIVE);
 }
 
 static int fxos8700_set_mt_ths(const struct device *dev,