diff --git a/drivers/dma/dmaengine.c b/drivers/dma/dmaengine.c
index 6dbe777b04f5..002ed81c277b 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/dmaengine.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/dmaengine.c
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ static struct dma_chan *private_candidate(const dma_cap_mask_t *mask,
 {
 	struct dma_chan *chan;
 
-	if (!__dma_device_satisfies_mask(dev, mask)) {
+	if (mask && !__dma_device_satisfies_mask(dev, mask)) {
 		pr_debug("%s: wrong capabilities\n", __func__);
 		return NULL;
 	}