diff --git a/drivers/i2c/soft_i2c.c b/drivers/i2c/soft_i2c.c
index a27de5a..da6cec1 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/soft_i2c.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/soft_i2c.c
@@ -385,8 +385,18 @@
 			}
 			shift -= 8;
 		}
-		send_stop();	/* reportedly some chips need a full stop */
+
+		/* Some I2C chips need a stop/start sequence here,
+		 * other chips don't work with a full stop and need
+		 * only a start.  Default behaviour is to send the
+		 * stop/start sequence.
+		 */
+#ifdef CONFIG_SOFT_I2C_READ_REPEATED_START
 		send_start();
+#else
+		send_stop();
+		send_start();
+#endif
 	}
 	/*
 	 * Send the chip address again, this time for a read cycle.