diff --git a/drivers/dma/amba-pl08x.c b/drivers/dma/amba-pl08x.c
index c7f7b82..bebc678 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/amba-pl08x.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/amba-pl08x.c
@@ -1129,6 +1129,9 @@
 	u32 cctl = 0;
 	int i;
 
+	if (!plchan->slave)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	/* Transfer direction */
 	plchan->runtime_direction = config->direction;
 	if (config->direction == DMA_TO_DEVICE) {