diff --git a/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-i2c.c b/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-i2c.c
index b58d4ebf6419..1048c1a23fb6 100644
--- a/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-i2c.c
+++ b/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-i2c.c
@@ -501,6 +501,12 @@ static int em28xx_i2c_xfer(struct i2c_adapter *i2c_adap,
 	int addr, rc, i;
 	u8 reg;
 
+	/* prevent i2c xfer attempts after device is disconnected
+	   some fe's try to do i2c writes/reads from their release
+	   interfaces when called in disconnect path */
+	if (dev->disconnected)
+		return -ENODEV;
+
 	rc = rt_mutex_trylock(&dev->i2c_bus_lock);
 	if (rc < 0)
 		return rc;