diff --git a/drivers/dma/imx-sdma.c b/drivers/dma/imx-sdma.c
index 152247675feb..4e7918339b12 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/imx-sdma.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/imx-sdma.c
@@ -1252,6 +1252,10 @@ static void sdma_add_scripts(struct sdma_engine *sdma,
 	s32 *saddr_arr = (u32 *)sdma->script_addrs;
 	int i;
 
+	/* use the default firmware in ROM if missing external firmware */
+	if (!sdma->script_number)
+		sdma->script_number = SDMA_SCRIPT_ADDRS_ARRAY_SIZE_V1;
+
 	for (i = 0; i < sdma->script_number; i++)
 		if (addr_arr[i] > 0)
 			saddr_arr[i] = addr_arr[i];