diff --git a/drivers/mtd/mtdchar.c b/drivers/mtd/mtdchar.c
index 8c86b802f212..942c88ec5b6a 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/mtdchar.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/mtdchar.c
@@ -135,7 +135,8 @@ static int mtd_close(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 
 	DEBUG(MTD_DEBUG_LEVEL0, "MTD_close\n");
 
-	if (mtd->sync)
+	/* Only sync if opened RW */
+	if ((file->f_mode & 2) && mtd->sync)
 		mtd->sync(mtd);
 
 	put_mtd_device(mtd);