diff --git a/drivers/dma/sh/rcar-dmac.c b/drivers/dma/sh/rcar-dmac.c
index 0b05a1e08d21..041ce864097e 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/sh/rcar-dmac.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/sh/rcar-dmac.c
@@ -1164,7 +1164,7 @@ rcar_dmac_prep_slave_sg(struct dma_chan *chan, struct scatterlist *sgl,
 	struct rcar_dmac_chan *rchan = to_rcar_dmac_chan(chan);
 
 	/* Someone calling slave DMA on a generic channel? */
-	if (rchan->mid_rid < 0 || !sg_len) {
+	if (rchan->mid_rid < 0 || !sg_len || !sg_dma_len(sgl)) {
 		dev_warn(chan->device->dev,
 			 "%s: bad parameter: len=%d, id=%d\n",
 			 __func__, sg_len, rchan->mid_rid);