diff --git a/drivers/dma/dw_dmac.c b/drivers/dma/dw_dmac.c
index a4cf2614085a..08dab3badad2 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/dw_dmac.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/dw_dmac.c
@@ -1341,6 +1341,8 @@ static int __init dw_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	dma_cap_set(DMA_MEMCPY, dw->dma.cap_mask);
 	dma_cap_set(DMA_SLAVE, dw->dma.cap_mask);
+	if (pdata->is_private)
+		dma_cap_set(DMA_PRIVATE, dw->dma.cap_mask);
 	dw->dma.dev = &pdev->dev;
 	dw->dma.device_alloc_chan_resources = dwc_alloc_chan_resources;
 	dw->dma.device_free_chan_resources = dwc_free_chan_resources;
diff --git a/include/linux/dw_dmac.h b/include/linux/dw_dmac.h
index 8014eb81054d..deec66b37180 100644
--- a/include/linux/dw_dmac.h
+++ b/include/linux/dw_dmac.h
@@ -16,9 +16,12 @@
 /**
  * struct dw_dma_platform_data - Controller configuration parameters
  * @nr_channels: Number of channels supported by hardware (max 8)
+ * @is_private: The device channels should be marked as private and not for
+ *	by the general purpose DMA channel allocator.
  */
 struct dw_dma_platform_data {
 	unsigned int	nr_channels;
+	bool		is_private;
 };
 
 /**