diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL_AVR/SPIDevice_SPI0.cpp b/libraries/AP_HAL_AVR/SPIDevice_SPI0.cpp
index 7b155d1d3a..6e84a5e295 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL_AVR/SPIDevice_SPI0.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL_AVR/SPIDevice_SPI0.cpp
@@ -72,8 +72,14 @@ inline uint8_t AVRSPI0DeviceDriver::_transfer(uint8_t data) {
 void AVRSPI0DeviceDriver::transaction(const uint8_t *tx, uint8_t *rx,
         uint16_t len) {
     _cs_assert();
-    for (uint16_t i = 0; i < len; i++) {
-        rx[i] = _transfer(tx[i]);
+    if (rx == NULL) {
+        for (uint16_t i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+            _transfer(tx[i]);
+        }
+    } else {
+        for (uint16_t i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+            rx[i] = _transfer(tx[i]);
+        }
     }
     _cs_release();
 }
diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL_AVR/SPIDevice_SPI2.cpp b/libraries/AP_HAL_AVR/SPIDevice_SPI2.cpp
index baca5ea246..d8a5e5aaea 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL_AVR/SPIDevice_SPI2.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL_AVR/SPIDevice_SPI2.cpp
@@ -71,8 +71,14 @@ inline uint8_t AVRSPI2DeviceDriver::_transfer(uint8_t data) {
 void AVRSPI2DeviceDriver::transaction(const uint8_t *tx, uint8_t *rx,
         uint16_t len) {
     _cs_assert();
-    for (uint16_t i = 0; i < len; i++) {
-        rx[i] = _transfer(tx[i]);
+    if (rx == NULL) {
+        for (uint16_t i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+            _transfer(tx[i]);
+        }
+    } else {
+        for (uint16_t i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+            rx[i] = _transfer(tx[i]);
+        }
     }
     _cs_release();
 }
diff --git a/libraries/AP_HAL_AVR/SPIDevice_SPI3.cpp b/libraries/AP_HAL_AVR/SPIDevice_SPI3.cpp
index ee245cc42e..acb03377a7 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_HAL_AVR/SPIDevice_SPI3.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_HAL_AVR/SPIDevice_SPI3.cpp
@@ -76,8 +76,14 @@ uint8_t AVRSPI3DeviceDriver::_transfer(uint8_t data) {
 void AVRSPI3DeviceDriver::transaction(const uint8_t *tx, uint8_t *rx,
         uint16_t len) {
     _cs_assert();
-    for (uint16_t i = 0; i < len; i++) {
-        rx[i] = _transfer(tx[i]);
+    if (rx == NULL) {
+        for (uint16_t i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+            _transfer(tx[i]);
+        }
+    } else {
+        for (uint16_t i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+            rx[i] = _transfer(tx[i]);
+        }
     }
     _cs_release();
 }