diff --git a/drivers/dma/xilinx/xilinx_dma.c b/drivers/dma/xilinx/xilinx_dma.c
index 6e7b183cb499..829601d8a16f 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/xilinx/xilinx_dma.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/xilinx/xilinx_dma.c
@@ -1603,7 +1603,6 @@ static void xilinx_dma_start_transfer(struct xilinx_dma_chan *chan)
 		reg &= ~XILINX_DMA_CR_COALESCE_MAX;
 		reg |= chan->desc_pendingcount <<
 				  XILINX_DMA_CR_COALESCE_SHIFT;
-		dma_ctrl_write(chan, XILINX_DMA_REG_DMACR, reg);
 	}
 
 	if (chan->has_sg && list_empty(&chan->active_list))
@@ -1614,7 +1613,8 @@ static void xilinx_dma_start_transfer(struct xilinx_dma_chan *chan)
 	reg |= XILINX_DMA_DMAXR_ALL_IRQ_MASK;
 	dma_ctrl_write(chan, XILINX_DMA_REG_DMACR, reg);
 
-	xilinx_dma_start(chan);
+	if (chan->idle)
+		xilinx_dma_start(chan);
 
 	if (chan->err)
 		return;
@@ -1703,7 +1703,8 @@ static void xilinx_mcdma_start_transfer(struct xilinx_dma_chan *chan)
 	reg |= XILINX_MCDMA_CR_RUNSTOP_MASK;
 	dma_ctrl_write(chan, XILINX_MCDMA_CHAN_CR_OFFSET(chan->tdest), reg);
 
-	xilinx_dma_start(chan);
+	if (chan->idle)
+		xilinx_dma_start(chan);
 
 	if (chan->err)
 		return;