diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-dw.c b/drivers/spi/spi-dw.c
index 73af58dbcd6a..1f1a3536b7cf 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-dw.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-dw.c
@@ -515,6 +515,7 @@ int dw_spi_add_host(struct device *dev, struct dw_spi *dws)
 			dev_warn(dev, "DMA init failed\n");
 		} else {
 			master->can_dma = dws->dma_ops->can_dma;
+			master->flags |= SPI_CONTROLLER_MUST_TX;
 		}
 	}