diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/msm_geni_serial.c b/drivers/tty/serial/msm_geni_serial.c
index 6d7e6fd35397..e2d94c714226 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/msm_geni_serial.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/msm_geni_serial.c
@@ -1342,14 +1342,14 @@ static void start_rx_sequencer(struct uart_port *uport)
 		msm_geni_serial_stop_rx(uport);
 	}
 
-	/* Start RX with the RFR_OPEN to keep RFR in always ready state */
-	msm_geni_serial_enable_interrupts(uport);
-	geni_setup_s_cmd(uport->membase, UART_START_READ, geni_se_param);
-
 	if (port->xfer_mode == SE_DMA)
 		geni_se_rx_dma_start(uport->membase, DMA_RX_BUF_SIZE,
 							&port->rx_dma);
 
+	/* Start RX with the RFR_OPEN to keep RFR in always ready state */
+	geni_setup_s_cmd(uport->membase, UART_START_READ, geni_se_param);
+	msm_geni_serial_enable_interrupts(uport);
+
 	/* Ensure that the above writes go through */
 	mb();
 	geni_status = geni_read_reg_nolog(uport->membase, SE_GENI_STATUS);