diff --git a/arch/arm/common/pl330.c b/arch/arm/common/pl330.c
index d8e44a43047c..ff3ad2244824 100644
--- a/arch/arm/common/pl330.c
+++ b/arch/arm/common/pl330.c
@@ -1502,12 +1502,13 @@ int pl330_chan_ctrl(void *ch_id, enum pl330_chan_op op)
 	struct pl330_thread *thrd = ch_id;
 	struct pl330_dmac *pl330;
 	unsigned long flags;
-	int ret = 0, active = thrd->req_running;
+	int ret = 0, active;
 
 	if (!thrd || thrd->free || thrd->dmac->state == DYING)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	pl330 = thrd->dmac;
+	active = thrd->req_running;
 
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&pl330->lock, flags);