diff --git a/drivers/ata/ahci.h b/drivers/ata/ahci.h
index b1750007c8dc..feb127ef4e4e 100644
--- a/drivers/ata/ahci.h
+++ b/drivers/ata/ahci.h
@@ -210,6 +210,9 @@ enum {
 	AHCI_HFLAG_NO_SNTF		= (1 << 12), /* no sntf */
 	AHCI_HFLAG_NO_FPDMA_AA		= (1 << 13), /* no FPDMA AA */
 	AHCI_HFLAG_YES_FBS		= (1 << 14), /* force FBS cap on */
+	AHCI_HFLAG_DELAY_ENGINE		= (1 << 15), /* do not start engine on
+						        port start (wait until
+						        error-handling stage) */
 
 	/* ap->flags bits */
 
diff --git a/drivers/ata/libahci.c b/drivers/ata/libahci.c
index a72bfd0ecfee..f9eaa82311a9 100644
--- a/drivers/ata/libahci.c
+++ b/drivers/ata/libahci.c
@@ -737,6 +737,7 @@ static void ahci_power_down(struct ata_port *ap)
 
 static void ahci_start_port(struct ata_port *ap)
 {
+	struct ahci_host_priv *hpriv = ap->host->private_data;
 	struct ahci_port_priv *pp = ap->private_data;
 	struct ata_link *link;
 	struct ahci_em_priv *emp;
@@ -746,6 +747,10 @@ static void ahci_start_port(struct ata_port *ap)
 	/* enable FIS reception */
 	ahci_start_fis_rx(ap);
 
+	/* enable DMA */
+	if (!(hpriv->flags & AHCI_HFLAG_DELAY_ENGINE))
+		ahci_start_engine(ap);
+
 	/* turn on LEDs */
 	if (ap->flags & ATA_FLAG_EM) {
 		ata_for_each_link(link, ap, EDGE) {