ide_set_handler(drive, &idetape_pc_intr, IDETAPE_WAIT_CMD, NULL);
 
        /* Begin DMA, if necessary */
-       if (pc->flags & PC_FLAG_DMA_IN_PROGRESS)
+       if (pc->flags & PC_FLAG_DMA_OK) {
+               pc->flags |= PC_FLAG_DMA_IN_PROGRESS;
                hwif->dma_ops->dma_start(drive);
+       }
 
        /* Send the actual packet */
        hwif->output_data(drive, NULL, pc->c, 12);
        if ((pc->flags & PC_FLAG_DMA_OK) && drive->using_dma)
                dma_ok = !hwif->dma_ops->dma_setup(drive);
 
+       if (!dma_ok)
+               pc->flags &= ~PC_FLAG_DMA_OK;
+
        ide_pktcmd_tf_load(drive, IDE_TFLAG_OUT_DEVICE, bcount, dma_ok);
 
-       if (dma_ok)
-               /* Will begin DMA later */
-               pc->flags |= PC_FLAG_DMA_IN_PROGRESS;
        if (test_bit(IDETAPE_FLAG_DRQ_INTERRUPT, &tape->flags)) {
                ide_execute_command(drive, WIN_PACKETCMD, &idetape_transfer_pc,
                                    IDETAPE_WAIT_CMD, NULL);