diff --git a/drivers/dma/xilinx/xilinx_dma.c b/drivers/dma/xilinx/xilinx_dma.c
index ca396b709742..6e7b183cb499 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/xilinx/xilinx_dma.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/xilinx/xilinx_dma.c
@@ -1580,7 +1580,14 @@ static void xilinx_dma_start_transfer(struct xilinx_dma_chan *chan)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (!chan->idle)
+	/*
+	 * Direct (non-SG) mode has no descriptor queue: writing the BTT
+	 * register launches a transfer immediately, so a new transfer must
+	 * not be programmed while one is in flight. Keep such transfers
+	 * serialized. SG mode supports chaining onto a running transfer via
+	 * tail-pointer extension, so it is allowed to proceed when busy.
+	 */
+	if (!chan->has_sg && !chan->idle)
 		return;
 
 	head_desc = list_first_entry(&chan->pending_list,
@@ -1599,7 +1606,7 @@ static void xilinx_dma_start_transfer(struct xilinx_dma_chan *chan)
 		dma_ctrl_write(chan, XILINX_DMA_REG_DMACR, reg);
 	}
 
-	if (chan->has_sg)
+	if (chan->has_sg && list_empty(&chan->active_list))
 		xilinx_write(chan, XILINX_DMA_REG_CURDESC,
 			     head_desc->async_tx.phys);
 	reg  &= ~XILINX_DMA_CR_DELAY_MAX;
@@ -1660,9 +1667,6 @@ static void xilinx_mcdma_start_transfer(struct xilinx_dma_chan *chan)
 	if (chan->err)
 		return;
 
-	if (!chan->idle)
-		return;
-
 	if (list_empty(&chan->pending_list))
 		return;
 
@@ -1685,8 +1689,9 @@ static void xilinx_mcdma_start_transfer(struct xilinx_dma_chan *chan)
 	dma_ctrl_write(chan, XILINX_MCDMA_CHAN_CR_OFFSET(chan->tdest), reg);
 
 	/* Program current descriptor */
-	xilinx_write(chan, XILINX_MCDMA_CHAN_CDESC_OFFSET(chan->tdest),
-		     head_desc->async_tx.phys);
+	if (chan->has_sg && list_empty(&chan->active_list))
+		xilinx_write(chan, XILINX_MCDMA_CHAN_CDESC_OFFSET(chan->tdest),
+			     head_desc->async_tx.phys);
 
 	/* Program channel enable register */
 	reg = dma_ctrl_read(chan, XILINX_MCDMA_CHEN_OFFSET);