diff --git a/kernel/sdma.c b/kernel/sdma.c
index 91bc04e2..7d38e65b 100644
--- a/kernel/sdma.c
+++ b/kernel/sdma.c
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ nodesc:
 		unsigned long ts = rdtsc();
 
 		while ((tx->num_desc > sde->desc_avail) &&
-				(rdtsc() - ts) < 50000000) {
+				(rdtsc() - ts) < 5000000) {
 			sde->desc_avail = sdma_descq_freecnt(sde);
 			cpu_pause();
 		}