diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/sdma.c b/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/sdma.c
index 6e5ac2023328a..b67d23b1f2862 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/sdma.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/hw/hfi1/sdma.c
@@ -3158,7 +3158,7 @@ int _pad_sdma_tx_descs(struct hfi1_devdata *dd, struct sdma_txreq *tx)
 {
 	int rval = 0;
 
-	if ((unlikely(tx->num_desc + 1 == tx->desc_limit))) {
+	if ((unlikely(tx->num_desc == tx->desc_limit))) {
 		rval = _extend_sdma_tx_descs(dd, tx);
 		if (rval) {
 			__sdma_txclean(dd, tx);