diff --git a/drivers/dma/imx-sdma.c b/drivers/dma/imx-sdma.c
index 03d46f1b08263..cb1b44d78a1f2 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/imx-sdma.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/imx-sdma.c
@@ -1214,7 +1214,7 @@ static int sdma_alloc_bd(struct sdma_desc *desc)
 	int ret = 0;
 
 	desc->bd = dma_zalloc_coherent(NULL, bd_size, &desc->bd_phys,
-					GFP_ATOMIC);
+					GFP_NOWAIT);
 	if (!desc->bd) {
 		ret = -ENOMEM;
 		goto out;