diff --git a/net/qrtr/mhi.c b/net/qrtr/mhi.c
index ff0c41467fc1..7100f0bac4c6 100644
--- a/net/qrtr/mhi.c
+++ b/net/qrtr/mhi.c
@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@ static int qcom_mhi_qrtr_probe(struct mhi_device *mhi_dev,
 	struct qrtr_mhi_dev *qdev;
 	int rc;
 
+	/* start channels */
+	rc = mhi_prepare_for_transfer(mhi_dev);
+	if (rc)
+		return rc;
+
 	qdev = devm_kzalloc(&mhi_dev->dev, sizeof(*qdev), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!qdev)
 		return -ENOMEM;