diff --git a/drivers/spi/atmel_spi.c b/drivers/spi/atmel_spi.c
index 9f9ff3a..f5b3fdb 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/atmel_spi.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/atmel_spi.c
@@ -530,9 +530,6 @@
 	return ret;
 }
 
-/* the spi->mode bits understood by this driver: */
-#define MODEBITS (SPI_CPOL | SPI_CPHA | SPI_CS_HIGH)
-
 static int atmel_spi_setup(struct spi_device *spi)
 {
 	struct atmel_spi	*as;
@@ -562,12 +559,6 @@
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	if (spi->mode & ~MODEBITS) {
-		dev_dbg(&spi->dev, "setup: unsupported mode bits %x\n",
-			spi->mode & ~MODEBITS);
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
 	/* see notes above re chipselect */
 	if (!atmel_spi_is_v2()
 			&& spi->chip_select == 0
@@ -773,6 +764,9 @@
 	if (!master)
 		goto out_free;
 
+	/* the spi->mode bits understood by this driver: */
+	master->mode_bits = SPI_CPOL | SPI_CPHA | SPI_CS_HIGH;
+
 	master->bus_num = pdev->id;
 	master->num_chipselect = 4;
 	master->setup = atmel_spi_setup;