diff --git a/drivers/dma/iovlock.c b/drivers/dma/iovlock.c
index 9f6fe46a9b87..c0a272c73682 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/iovlock.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/iovlock.c
@@ -183,6 +183,11 @@ dma_cookie_t dma_memcpy_to_iovec(struct dma_chan *chan, struct iovec *iov,
 					iov_byte_offset,
 					kdata,
 					copy);
+			/* poll for a descriptor slot */
+			if (unlikely(dma_cookie < 0)) {
+				dma_async_issue_pending(chan);
+				continue;
+			}
 
 			len -= copy;
 			iov[iovec_idx].iov_len -= copy;
@@ -248,6 +253,11 @@ dma_cookie_t dma_memcpy_pg_to_iovec(struct dma_chan *chan, struct iovec *iov,
 					page,
 					offset,
 					copy);
+			/* poll for a descriptor slot */
+			if (unlikely(dma_cookie < 0)) {
+				dma_async_issue_pending(chan);
+				continue;
+			}
 
 			len -= copy;
 			iov[iovec_idx].iov_len -= copy;