diff --git a/arch/xtensa/src/esp32/esp32_spi.c b/arch/xtensa/src/esp32/esp32_spi.c
index 8d552e61a6..d57c8c7ea1 100644
--- a/arch/xtensa/src/esp32/esp32_spi.c
+++ b/arch/xtensa/src/esp32/esp32_spi.c
@@ -1052,7 +1052,7 @@ static void esp32_spi_poll_exchange(FAR struct esp32_spi_priv_s *priv,
 
   for (i = 0 ; i < nwords; i++)
     {
-      uint32_t w_wd = 0;
+      uint32_t w_wd = 0xffff;
       uint32_t r_wd;
 
       if (txbuffer)