diff --git a/drivers/dma/xilinx/xilinx_dma.c b/drivers/dma/xilinx/xilinx_dma.c
index 404235c17353..ca396b709742 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/xilinx/xilinx_dma.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/xilinx/xilinx_dma.c
@@ -1893,8 +1893,10 @@ static irqreturn_t xilinx_mcdma_irq_handler(int irq, void *data)
 	if (status & XILINX_MCDMA_IRQ_IOC_MASK) {
 		spin_lock(&chan->lock);
 		xilinx_dma_complete_descriptor(chan);
-		chan->idle = true;
-		chan->start_transfer(chan);
+		if (list_empty(&chan->active_list)) {
+			chan->idle = true;
+			chan->start_transfer(chan);
+		}
 		spin_unlock(&chan->lock);
 	}
 
@@ -1950,8 +1952,10 @@ static irqreturn_t xilinx_dma_irq_handler(int irq, void *data)
 		      XILINX_DMA_DMASR_DLY_CNT_IRQ)) {
 		spin_lock(&chan->lock);
 		xilinx_dma_complete_descriptor(chan);
-		chan->idle = true;
-		chan->start_transfer(chan);
+		if (list_empty(&chan->active_list)) {
+			chan->idle = true;
+			chan->start_transfer(chan);
+		}
 		spin_unlock(&chan->lock);
 	}