diff --git a/drivers/power/smb135x-charger.c b/drivers/power/smb135x-charger.c
index 009c273ec10c..8d69b97f155f 100644
--- a/drivers/power/smb135x-charger.c
+++ b/drivers/power/smb135x-charger.c
@@ -1731,13 +1731,6 @@ static int smb135x_parallel_set_chg_present(struct smb135x_chg *chip,
 	u8 val;
 	int rc;
 
-	/* Check if SMB135x is present */
-	rc = smb135x_read(chip, VERSION1_REG, &val);
-	if (rc) {
-		pr_debug("Failed to detect smb135x-parallel charger may be absent\n");
-		return -ENODEV;
-	}
-
 	if (present == chip->parallel_charger_present) {
 		pr_debug("present %d -> %d, skipping\n",
 				chip->parallel_charger_present, present);
@@ -1745,6 +1738,13 @@ static int smb135x_parallel_set_chg_present(struct smb135x_chg *chip,
 	}
 
 	if (present) {
+		/* Check if SMB135x is present */
+		rc = smb135x_read(chip, VERSION1_REG, &val);
+		if (rc) {
+			pr_debug("Failed to detect smb135x-parallel charger may be absent\n");
+			return -ENODEV;
+		}
+
 		rc = smb135x_enable_volatile_writes(chip);
 		if (rc < 0) {
 			dev_err(chip->dev,