diff --git a/arch/arm/src/s32k1xx/s32k1xx_serial.c b/arch/arm/src/s32k1xx/s32k1xx_serial.c
index de1ed6ef80f..7053b633731 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/s32k1xx/s32k1xx_serial.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/s32k1xx/s32k1xx_serial.c
@@ -1768,9 +1768,12 @@ static void s32k1xx_dma_txavailable(struct uart_dev_s *dev)
 
   /* Only send when the DMA is idle */
 
-  nxsem_wait(&priv->txdmasem);
+  int rv = nxsem_trywait(&priv->txdmasem);
 
-  uart_xmitchars_dma(dev);
+  if (rv == OK)
+    {
+      uart_xmitchars_dma(dev);
+    }
 }
 #endif