diff --git a/drivers/dma/sh/rcar-dmac.c b/drivers/dma/sh/rcar-dmac.c
index 72e7dab52c48..561476c1e741 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/sh/rcar-dmac.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/sh/rcar-dmac.c
@@ -990,6 +990,8 @@ static void rcar_dmac_free_chan_resources(struct dma_chan *chan)
 	list_splice_init(&rchan->desc.done, &list);
 	list_splice_init(&rchan->desc.wait, &list);
 
+	rchan->desc.running = NULL;
+
 	list_for_each_entry(desc, &list, node)
 		rcar_dmac_realloc_hwdesc(rchan, desc, 0);