diff --git a/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/denali.c b/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/denali.c
index 59544ff934..d9f3c32eb9 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/denali.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/denali.c
@@ -588,6 +588,12 @@ static int denali_dma_xfer(struct denali_nand_info *denali, void *buf,
 	}
 
 	iowrite32(DMA_ENABLE__FLAG, denali->reg + DMA_ENABLE);
+	/*
+	 * The ->setup_dma() hook kicks DMA by using the data/command
+	 * interface, which belongs to a different AXI port from the
+	 * register interface.  Read back the register to avoid a race.
+	 */
+	ioread32(denali->reg + DMA_ENABLE);
 
 	denali_reset_irq(denali);
 	denali->setup_dma(denali, dma_addr, page, write);