diff --git a/drivers/mtd/mtd_config.c b/drivers/mtd/mtd_config.c
index d089758690..fe20a0c323 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/mtd_config.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/mtd_config.c
@@ -1423,14 +1423,17 @@ static int mtdconfig_getconfig(FAR struct mtdconfig_struct_s *dev,
 
       /* Perform the read */
 
-      ret = mtdconfig_readbytes(dev, offset + sizeof(hdr), pdata->configdata,
-                                bytes_to_read);
-      if (ret != OK)
+      if (pdata->configdata && bytes_to_read)
         {
-          /* Error reading the data */
+          ret = mtdconfig_readbytes(dev, offset + sizeof(hdr),
+                                    pdata->configdata, bytes_to_read);
+          if (ret != OK)
+            {
+              /* Error reading the data */
 
-          ret = -EIO;
-          goto errout;
+              ret = -EIO;
+              goto errout;
+            }
         }
 
       /* Set return data length to match the config item length */