diff --git a/sys/dev/sound/isa/sb.c b/sys/dev/sound/isa/sb.c
index 93e1815db7ff..216198272a3c 100644
--- a/sys/dev/sound/isa/sb.c
+++ b/sys/dev/sound/isa/sb.c
@@ -583,14 +583,10 @@ ess_intr(void *arg)
      	* We are transferring data in DSP normal mode,
      	* so clear the dl to indicate the DMA is stopped.
      	*/
-    	if (sb->pch.buffer->dl > 0) {
-		sb->pch.buffer->dl = -1;
+    	if (sb->pch.buffer->dl > 0)
 		chn_intr(sb->pch.channel);
-    	}
-    	if (sb->rch.buffer->dl > 0) {
-		sb->rch.buffer->dl = -1;
+    	if (sb->rch.buffer->dl > 0)
 		chn_intr(sb->rch.channel);
-    	}
 }
 
 static int
diff --git a/sys/dev/sound/isa/sb16.c b/sys/dev/sound/isa/sb16.c
index 93e1815db7ff..216198272a3c 100644
--- a/sys/dev/sound/isa/sb16.c
+++ b/sys/dev/sound/isa/sb16.c
@@ -583,14 +583,10 @@ ess_intr(void *arg)
      	* We are transferring data in DSP normal mode,
      	* so clear the dl to indicate the DMA is stopped.
      	*/
-    	if (sb->pch.buffer->dl > 0) {
-		sb->pch.buffer->dl = -1;
+    	if (sb->pch.buffer->dl > 0)
 		chn_intr(sb->pch.channel);
-    	}
-    	if (sb->rch.buffer->dl > 0) {
-		sb->rch.buffer->dl = -1;
+    	if (sb->rch.buffer->dl > 0)
 		chn_intr(sb->rch.channel);
-    	}
 }
 
 static int
diff --git a/sys/dev/sound/isa/sb8.c b/sys/dev/sound/isa/sb8.c
index 93e1815db7ff..216198272a3c 100644
--- a/sys/dev/sound/isa/sb8.c
+++ b/sys/dev/sound/isa/sb8.c
@@ -583,14 +583,10 @@ ess_intr(void *arg)
      	* We are transferring data in DSP normal mode,
      	* so clear the dl to indicate the DMA is stopped.
      	*/
-    	if (sb->pch.buffer->dl > 0) {
-		sb->pch.buffer->dl = -1;
+    	if (sb->pch.buffer->dl > 0)
 		chn_intr(sb->pch.channel);
-    	}
-    	if (sb->rch.buffer->dl > 0) {
-		sb->rch.buffer->dl = -1;
+    	if (sb->rch.buffer->dl > 0)
 		chn_intr(sb->rch.channel);
-    	}
 }
 
 static int