diff --git a/drivers/ddr/imx/imx8m/ddr_init.c b/drivers/ddr/imx/imx8m/ddr_init.c
index d964184ddc..52a4aa6323 100644
--- a/drivers/ddr/imx/imx8m/ddr_init.c
+++ b/drivers/ddr/imx/imx8m/ddr_init.c
@@ -134,8 +134,14 @@ unsigned int lpddr4_mr_read(unsigned int mr_rank, unsigned int mr_addr)
 		tmp = reg32_read(DRC_PERF_MON_MRR0_DAT(0));
 	} while ((tmp & 0x8) == 0);
 	tmp = reg32_read(DRC_PERF_MON_MRR1_DAT(0));
-	tmp = tmp & 0xff;
 	reg32_write(DRC_PERF_MON_MRR0_DAT(0), 0x4);
+	while (tmp) { //try to find a significant byte in the word
+		if (tmp & 0xff) {
+			tmp &= 0xff;
+			break;
+		}
+		tmp >>= 8;
+	}
 
 	return tmp;
 }