diff --git a/drivers/dma/shdma.c b/drivers/dma/shdma.c
index fb64cf3..eb6b54d 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/shdma.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/shdma.c
@@ -580,7 +580,6 @@
 
 	sh_chan = to_sh_chan(chan);
 	param = chan->private;
-	slave_addr = param->config->addr;
 
 	/* Someone calling slave DMA on a public channel? */
 	if (!param || !sg_len) {
@@ -589,6 +588,8 @@
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
+	slave_addr = param->config->addr;
+
 	/*
 	 * if (param != NULL), this is a successfully requested slave channel,
 	 * therefore param->config != NULL too.