diff --git a/drivers/dma/sh/rcar-dmac.c b/drivers/dma/sh/rcar-dmac.c
index 8367578bac638dd1ada2ccb40dba9444ca5cce6d..5a6b85527107c85a069ec072c61c51854428f8c3 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/sh/rcar-dmac.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/sh/rcar-dmac.c
@@ -487,16 +487,16 @@ static int rcar_dmac_desc_alloc(struct rcar_dmac_chan *chan, gfp_t gfp)
  *
  * The descriptor must have been removed from the channel's lists before calling
  * this function.
- *
- * Locking: Must be called in non-atomic context.
  */
 static void rcar_dmac_desc_put(struct rcar_dmac_chan *chan,
 			       struct rcar_dmac_desc *desc)
 {
-	spin_lock_irq(&chan->lock);
+	unsigned long flags;
+
+	spin_lock_irqsave(&chan->lock, flags);
 	list_splice_tail_init(&desc->chunks, &chan->desc.chunks_free);
 	list_add_tail(&desc->node, &chan->desc.free);
-	spin_unlock_irq(&chan->lock);
+	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&chan->lock, flags);
 }
 
 static void rcar_dmac_desc_recycle_acked(struct rcar_dmac_chan *chan)