diff --git a/drivers/i3c/i3c_cdns.c b/drivers/i3c/i3c_cdns.c
index cad6bab6566..cad71e5cae6 100644
--- a/drivers/i3c/i3c_cdns.c
+++ b/drivers/i3c/i3c_cdns.c
@@ -703,7 +703,7 @@ static void cdns_i3c_program_controller_retaining_reg(const struct device *dev)
 
 	if (!i3c_addr_slots_is_free(&data->common.attached_dev.addr_slots, controller_da)) {
 		controller_da =
-			i3c_addr_slots_next_free_find(&data->common.attached_dev.addr_slots);
+			i3c_addr_slots_next_free_find(&data->common.attached_dev.addr_slots, 0);
 		LOG_DBG("%s: 0x%02x DA selected for controller", dev->name, controller_da);
 	}
 	sys_write32(prepare_rr0_dev_address(controller_da), config->base + DEV_ID_RR0(0));
diff --git a/drivers/i3c/i3c_common.c b/drivers/i3c/i3c_common.c
index 29746f3cf68..6c170edb9e3 100644
--- a/drivers/i3c/i3c_common.c
+++ b/drivers/i3c/i3c_common.c
@@ -157,13 +157,13 @@ bool i3c_addr_slots_is_free(struct i3c_addr_slots *slots,
 	return (status == I3C_ADDR_SLOT_STATUS_FREE);
 }
 
-uint8_t i3c_addr_slots_next_free_find(struct i3c_addr_slots *slots)
+uint8_t i3c_addr_slots_next_free_find(struct i3c_addr_slots *slots, uint8_t start_addr)
 {
 	uint8_t addr;
 	enum i3c_addr_slot_status status;
 
 	/* Addresses 0 to 7 are reserved. So start at 8. */
-	for (addr = 8; addr < I3C_MAX_ADDR; addr++) {
+	for (addr = MAX(start_addr, 8); addr < I3C_MAX_ADDR; addr++) {
 		status = i3c_addr_slots_status(slots, addr);
 		if (status == I3C_ADDR_SLOT_STATUS_FREE) {
 			return addr;
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ int i3c_determine_default_addr(struct i3c_device_desc *target, uint8_t *addr)
 				} else {
 					/* address is not free, get the next one */
 					*addr = i3c_addr_slots_next_free_find(
-						&data->attached_dev.addr_slots);
+						&data->attached_dev.addr_slots, 0);
 				}
 			} else {
 				/* Use the init dynamic address as it's DA, but the RR will need to
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ int i3c_determine_default_addr(struct i3c_device_desc *target, uint8_t *addr)
 			} else {
 				/* pick a DA to use */
 				*addr = i3c_addr_slots_next_free_find(
-					&data->attached_dev.addr_slots);
+					&data->attached_dev.addr_slots, 0);
 			}
 		}
 	} else {
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ int i3c_dev_list_daa_addr_helper(struct i3c_addr_slots *addr_slots,
 	/*
 	 * Find the next available address.
 	 */
-	dyn_addr = i3c_addr_slots_next_free_find(addr_slots);
+	dyn_addr = i3c_addr_slots_next_free_find(addr_slots, 0);
 
 	if (dyn_addr == 0U) {
 		/* No free addresses available */
diff --git a/include/zephyr/drivers/i3c/addresses.h b/include/zephyr/drivers/i3c/addresses.h
index 191e7f881da..c85255d8a69 100644
--- a/include/zephyr/drivers/i3c/addresses.h
+++ b/include/zephyr/drivers/i3c/addresses.h
@@ -113,10 +113,11 @@ bool i3c_addr_slots_is_free(struct i3c_addr_slots *slots,
  * assigned to a new device.
  *
  * @param slots Pointer to the address slots structure.
+ * @param start_addr Where to start searching
  *
  * @return The next free address, or 0 if none found.
  */
-uint8_t i3c_addr_slots_next_free_find(struct i3c_addr_slots *slots);
+uint8_t i3c_addr_slots_next_free_find(struct i3c_addr_slots *slots, uint8_t start_addr);
 
 /**
  * @brief Mark the address as free (not used) in device list.