diff --git a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c
index 115660dce722..6ae0101b247a 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@
 #define SMBSLVSTS_HST_NTFY_STS	BIT(0)
 
 /* Host Notify Command register bits */
+#define SMBSLVCMD_SMBALERT_DISABLE	BIT(2)
 #define SMBSLVCMD_HST_NTFY_INTREN	BIT(0)
 
 #define STATUS_ERROR_FLAGS	(SMBHSTSTS_FAILED | SMBHSTSTS_BUS_ERR | \
@@ -972,9 +973,9 @@ static void i801_enable_host_notify(struct i2c_adapter *adapter)
 	if (!(priv->features & FEATURE_HOST_NOTIFY))
 		return;
 
-	if (!(SMBSLVCMD_HST_NTFY_INTREN & priv->original_slvcmd))
-		outb_p(SMBSLVCMD_HST_NTFY_INTREN | priv->original_slvcmd,
-		       SMBSLVCMD(priv));
+	/* Enable host notify interrupt and disable SMB_ALERT signal */
+	outb_p(SMBSLVCMD_HST_NTFY_INTREN | SMBSLVCMD_SMBALERT_DISABLE |
+	       priv->original_slvcmd, SMBSLVCMD(priv));
 
 	/* clear Host Notify bit to allow a new notification */
 	outb_p(SMBSLVSTS_HST_NTFY_STS, SMBSLVSTS(priv));