diff --git a/drivers/i2c/muxes/pca954x.c b/drivers/i2c/muxes/pca954x.c
index 54e1ce73534b8dfb6aa962fc1d06c9df2be530c1..6f89536646365db2cf316d166c2df23959d2988e 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/muxes/pca954x.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/muxes/pca954x.c
@@ -201,10 +201,11 @@ static int pca954x_probe(struct i2c_client *client,
 
 	i2c_set_clientdata(client, data);
 
-	/* Read the mux register at addr to verify
-	 * that the mux is in fact present.
+	/* Write the mux register at addr to verify
+	 * that the mux is in fact present. This also
+	 * initializes the mux to disconnected state.
 	 */
-	if (i2c_smbus_read_byte(client) < 0) {
+	if (i2c_smbus_write_byte(client, 0) < 0) {
 		dev_warn(&client->dev, "probe failed\n");
 		goto exit_free;
 	}