diff --git a/drivers/dma/sh/rz-dmac.c b/drivers/dma/sh/rz-dmac.c
index e2d506eb8194..29fa2ad07e30 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/sh/rz-dmac.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/sh/rz-dmac.c
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ static void rz_dmac_irq_handle_channel(struct rz_dmac_chan *channel)
 {
 	struct dma_chan *chan = &channel->vc.chan;
 	struct rz_dmac *dmac = to_rz_dmac(chan->device);
-	u32 chstat, chctrl;
+	u32 chstat;
 
 	chstat = rz_dmac_ch_readl(channel, CHSTAT, 1);
 	if (chstat & CHSTAT_ER) {
@@ -708,8 +708,11 @@ static void rz_dmac_irq_handle_channel(struct rz_dmac_chan *channel)
 		goto done;
 	}
 
-	chctrl = rz_dmac_ch_readl(channel, CHCTRL, 1);
-	rz_dmac_ch_writel(channel, chctrl | CHCTRL_CLREND, CHCTRL, 1);
+	/*
+	 * No need to lock. This just clears the END interrupt. Writing
+	 * zeros to CHCTRL is just ignored by HW.
+	 */
+	rz_dmac_ch_writel(channel, CHCTRL_CLREND, CHCTRL, 1);
 done:
 	return;
 }