diff --git a/arch/arm/src/lpc17xx/lpc17_gpdma.c b/arch/arm/src/lpc17xx/lpc17_gpdma.c
index 4edc87dbf1b..6ccc8e4ef5a 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/lpc17xx/lpc17_gpdma.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/lpc17xx/lpc17_gpdma.c
@@ -247,6 +247,10 @@ void weak_function up_dmainitialize(void)
     {
       up_enable_irq(LPC17_IRQ_GPDMA);
     }
+
+  /* Enable the DMA controller (for little endian operation) */
+
+  putreg32(DMA_CONFIG_E, LPC17_DMA_CONFIG);
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************