diff --git a/firmware/target/arm/imx31/gigabeat-s/pcm-imx31.c b/firmware/target/arm/imx31/gigabeat-s/pcm-imx31.c
index 39c0bc4969..9d2503f4e6 100644
--- a/firmware/target/arm/imx31/gigabeat-s/pcm-imx31.c
+++ b/firmware/target/arm/imx31/gigabeat-s/pcm-imx31.c
@@ -272,6 +272,12 @@ void pcm_play_dma_start(const void *addr, size_t size)
     addr = (void *)(((unsigned long)addr + 3) & ~3);
     size &= ~3;
 
+    if (size <= 0)
+        return;
+
+    if (!sdma_channel_reset(DMA_PLAY_CH_NUM))
+        return;
+
     clean_dcache_range(addr, size);
     dma_play_bd.buf_addr =
         (void *)addr_virt_to_phys((unsigned long)(void *)addr);
@@ -280,7 +286,7 @@ void pcm_play_dma_start(const void *addr, size_t size)
     dma_play_bd.mode.status = BD_DONE | BD_WRAP | BD_INTR;
 
     play_start_pcm();
-    sdma_channel_start(DMA_PLAY_CH_NUM);
+    sdma_channel_run(DMA_PLAY_CH_NUM);
 }
 
 void pcm_play_dma_stop(void)
@@ -463,6 +469,12 @@ void pcm_rec_dma_start(void *addr, size_t size)
     addr = (void *)(((unsigned long)addr + 3) & ~3);
     size &= ~3;
 
+    if (size <= 0)
+        return;
+
+    if (!sdma_channel_reset(DMA_REC_CH_NUM))
+        return;
+    
     /* Invalidate - buffer must be coherent */
     dump_dcache_range(addr, size);
 
@@ -483,8 +495,7 @@ void pcm_rec_dma_start(void *addr, size_t size)
 
     /* Enable receive */
     SSI_SCR2 |= SSI_SCR_RE;
-
-    sdma_channel_start(DMA_REC_CH_NUM);
+    sdma_channel_run(DMA_REC_CH_NUM);
 }
 
 void pcm_rec_dma_close(void)
diff --git a/firmware/target/arm/imx31/sdma-imx31.c b/firmware/target/arm/imx31/sdma-imx31.c
index 0683ec3568..100bd51028 100644
--- a/firmware/target/arm/imx31/sdma-imx31.c
+++ b/firmware/target/arm/imx31/sdma-imx31.c
@@ -613,23 +613,23 @@ void sdma_channel_set_priority(unsigned int channel, unsigned int priority)
     SDMA_CHNPRI(channel) = priority;
 }
 
-/* Start a channel cold - resets execution to start of script */
-void sdma_channel_start(unsigned int channel)
+/* Resets a channel to start of script next time it runs. */
+bool sdma_channel_reset(unsigned int channel)
 {
     struct channel_control_block *ccb_p;
 
     if (channel == 0 || channel >= CH_NUM)
-        return;
+        return false;
 
     ccb_p = &ccb_array[channel];
 
     if (ccb_p->status.opened_init == 0)
-        return;
+        return false;
 
     if (!setup_channel(ccb_p))
-        return;
+        return false;
 
-    SDMA_HSTART = 1ul << channel;
+    return true;
 }
 
 /* Resume or start execution on a channel */
diff --git a/firmware/target/arm/imx31/sdma-imx31.h b/firmware/target/arm/imx31/sdma-imx31.h
index fa8195198b..5daa33d7ba 100644
--- a/firmware/target/arm/imx31/sdma-imx31.h
+++ b/firmware/target/arm/imx31/sdma-imx31.h
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ void sdma_init(void);
 void sdma_read_words(unsigned long *buf, unsigned long start, int count);
 void sdma_write_words(const unsigned long *buf, unsigned long start, int count);
 void sdma_channel_set_priority(unsigned int channel, unsigned int priority);
-void sdma_channel_start(unsigned int channel);
+bool sdma_channel_reset(unsigned int channel);
 void sdma_channel_run(unsigned int channel);
 void sdma_channel_pause(unsigned int channel);
 void sdma_channel_stop(unsigned int channel);