diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-davinci/dma.c b/arch/arm/mach-davinci/dma.c
index a685e9706b7b..45b7c71d9cc1 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-davinci/dma.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-davinci/dma.c
@@ -743,6 +743,9 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(edma_free_channel);
  */
 int edma_alloc_slot(unsigned ctlr, int slot)
 {
+	if (!edma_cc[ctlr])
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	if (slot >= 0)
 		slot = EDMA_CHAN_SLOT(slot);