diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-msm-geni.c b/drivers/spi/spi-msm-geni.c
index cb0a55f0d213..b45f5f41e71c 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-msm-geni.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-msm-geni.c
@@ -1527,7 +1527,9 @@ static int setup_fifo_xfer(struct spi_transfer *xfer,
 	 * mode for transfers or select the mode dynamically based on
 	 * size of data.
 	 */
-	mas->cur_xfer_mode = SE_DMA;
+	if (spi->slave)
+		mas->cur_xfer_mode = SE_DMA;
+
 	if (mas->disable_dma || trans_len <= fifo_size)
 		mas->cur_xfer_mode = FIFO_MODE;
 	geni_se_select_mode(mas->base, mas->cur_xfer_mode);