diff --git a/arch/m68k/mac/iop.c b/arch/m68k/mac/iop.c
index 7990b6f50105..8209a74fbdeb 100644
--- a/arch/m68k/mac/iop.c
+++ b/arch/m68k/mac/iop.c
@@ -416,7 +416,8 @@ static void iop_handle_send(uint iop_num, uint chan)
 	iop_free_msg(msg2);
 
 	iop_send_queue[iop_num][chan] = msg;
-	if (msg) iop_do_send(msg);
+	if (msg && iop_readb(iop, IOP_ADDR_SEND_STATE + chan) == IOP_MSG_IDLE)
+		iop_do_send(msg);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -497,16 +498,12 @@ int iop_send_message(uint iop_num, uint chan, void *privdata,
 
 	if (!(q = iop_send_queue[iop_num][chan])) {
 		iop_send_queue[iop_num][chan] = msg;
+		iop_do_send(msg);
 	} else {
 		while (q->next) q = q->next;
 		q->next = msg;
 	}
 
-	if (iop_readb(iop_base[iop_num],
-	    IOP_ADDR_SEND_STATE + chan) == IOP_MSG_IDLE) {
-		iop_do_send(msg);
-	}
-
 	return 0;
 }