diff --git a/hw/scsi/esp.c b/hw/scsi/esp.c
index fb68606f00..04615d8b5f 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/esp.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/esp.c
@@ -62,14 +62,20 @@ static void esp_lower_irq(ESPState *s)
 
 static void esp_raise_drq(ESPState *s)
 {
-    qemu_irq_raise(s->drq_irq);
-    trace_esp_raise_drq();
+    if (!(s->drq_state)) {
+        qemu_irq_raise(s->drq_irq);
+        trace_esp_raise_drq();
+        s->drq_state = true;
+    }
 }
 
 static void esp_lower_drq(ESPState *s)
 {
-    qemu_irq_lower(s->drq_irq);
-    trace_esp_lower_drq();
+    if (s->drq_state) {
+        qemu_irq_lower(s->drq_irq);
+        trace_esp_lower_drq();
+        s->drq_state = false;
+    }
 }
 
 void esp_dma_enable(ESPState *s, int irq, int level)
@@ -1358,6 +1364,7 @@ const VMStateDescription vmstate_esp = {
         VMSTATE_UINT8_TEST(mig_ti_cmd, ESPState,
                            esp_is_between_version_5_and_6),
         VMSTATE_UINT8_TEST(lun, ESPState, esp_is_version_6),
+        VMSTATE_BOOL(drq_state, ESPState),
         VMSTATE_END_OF_LIST()
     },
 };
diff --git a/include/hw/scsi/esp.h b/include/hw/scsi/esp.h
index c6e8b64e20..533d856aa3 100644
--- a/include/hw/scsi/esp.h
+++ b/include/hw/scsi/esp.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ struct ESPState {
     uint8_t wregs[ESP_REGS];
     qemu_irq irq;
     qemu_irq drq_irq;
+    bool drq_state;
     uint8_t chip_id;
     bool tchi_written;
     int32_t ti_size;