diff --git a/sys/dev/ata/ata-lowlevel.c b/sys/dev/ata/ata-lowlevel.c
index c6aeb3355cc0..cb8ca58d8ef7 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ata/ata-lowlevel.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ata/ata-lowlevel.c
@@ -670,9 +670,11 @@ ata_generic_command(struct ata_request *request)
         int timeout = 5000;
 
         /* issue packet command to controller */
+	if (request->flags & ATA_R_DMA)
+	    ATA_IDX_OUTB(ch, ATA_FEATURE, ATA_F_DMA);
 	ATA_IDX_OUTB(ch, ATA_CYL_LSB, request->transfersize);
 	ATA_IDX_OUTB(ch, ATA_CYL_MSB, request->transfersize >> 8);
-        ATA_IDX_OUTB(ch, ATA_COMMAND, ATA_PACKET_CMD);
+	ATA_IDX_OUTB(ch, ATA_COMMAND, ATA_PACKET_CMD);
 
 	/* command interrupt device ? just return and wait for interrupt */
         if ((atadev->param.config & ATA_DRQ_MASK) == ATA_DRQ_INTR)