diff --git a/drivers/dma/mv_xor.c b/drivers/dma/mv_xor.c
index 766b68ed505c..394cbc5c93e3 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/mv_xor.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/mv_xor.c
@@ -191,12 +191,10 @@ static void mv_set_mode(struct mv_xor_chan *chan,
 
 static void mv_chan_activate(struct mv_xor_chan *chan)
 {
-	u32 activation;
-
 	dev_dbg(mv_chan_to_devp(chan), " activate chan.\n");
-	activation = readl_relaxed(XOR_ACTIVATION(chan));
-	activation |= 0x1;
-	writel_relaxed(activation, XOR_ACTIVATION(chan));
+
+	/* writel ensures all descriptors are flushed before activation */
+	writel(BIT(0), XOR_ACTIVATION(chan));
 }
 
 static char mv_chan_is_busy(struct mv_xor_chan *chan)