diff --git a/drivers/char/drm/via_dmablit.c b/drivers/char/drm/via_dmablit.c
index 832de1d9ba7e81bae74c780524c2c5b345c719fe..3dd1ed3d1bf5c859c388979a25a6c05f7c17c113 100644
--- a/drivers/char/drm/via_dmablit.c
+++ b/drivers/char/drm/via_dmablit.c
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ via_init_dmablit(struct drm_device *dev)
 		blitq->head = 0;
 		blitq->cur = 0;
 		blitq->serviced = 0;
-		blitq->num_free = VIA_NUM_BLIT_SLOTS;
+		blitq->num_free = VIA_NUM_BLIT_SLOTS - 1;
 		blitq->num_outstanding = 0;
 		blitq->is_active = 0;
 		blitq->aborting = 0;