diff --git a/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/ni_pcidio.c b/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/ni_pcidio.c
index 045a4c00f346..c9e5f2b2dfbb 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/ni_pcidio.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/ni_pcidio.c
@@ -1012,6 +1012,9 @@ static int setup_mite_dma(struct comedi_device *dev, struct comedi_subdevice *s)
 
 	devpriv->di_mite_chan->dir = COMEDI_INPUT;
 
+	/* write alloc the entire buffer */
+	comedi_buf_write_alloc(s->async, s->async->prealloc_bufsz);
+
 	mite_prep_dma(devpriv->di_mite_chan, 32, 32);
 
 	mite_dma_arm(devpriv->di_mite_chan);