drv_data->cs_change = transfer->cs_change;
 
        /* Bits per word setup */
-       bits_per_word = transfer->bits_per_word ? : message->spi->bits_per_word;
-       if (bits_per_word == 8)
-               drv_data->ops = &bfin_sport_transfer_ops_u8;
-       else
+       bits_per_word = transfer->bits_per_word ? :
+               message->spi->bits_per_word ? : 8;
+       if (bits_per_word % 16 == 0)
                drv_data->ops = &bfin_sport_transfer_ops_u16;
+       else
+               drv_data->ops = &bfin_sport_transfer_ops_u8;
        bfin_write(&drv_data->regs->tcr2, bits_per_word - 1);
        bfin_write(&drv_data->regs->tfsdiv, bits_per_word - 1);
        bfin_write(&drv_data->regs->rcr2, bits_per_word - 1);
                        }
                        chip->cs_chg_udelay = chip_info->cs_chg_udelay;
                        chip->idle_tx_val = chip_info->idle_tx_val;
-                       spi->bits_per_word = chip_info->bits_per_word;
                }
        }
 
-       if (spi->bits_per_word != 8 && spi->bits_per_word != 16) {
+       if (spi->bits_per_word % 8) {
+               dev_err(&spi->dev, "%d bits_per_word is not supported\n",
+                               spi->bits_per_word);
                ret = -EINVAL;
                goto error;
        }