diff --git a/sys/dev/mmc/host/dwmmc.c b/sys/dev/mmc/host/dwmmc.c
index 674c0d441b40..c39ced20a660 100644
--- a/sys/dev/mmc/host/dwmmc.c
+++ b/sys/dev/mmc/host/dwmmc.c
@@ -1278,7 +1278,7 @@ dwmmc_read_ivar(device_t bus, device_t child, int which, uintptr_t *result)
 		*(int *)result = sc->host.caps;
 		break;
 	case MMCBR_IVAR_MAX_DATA:
-		*(int *)result = sc->desc_count;
+		*(int *)result = sc->desc_count - 1;
 		break;
 	case MMCBR_IVAR_TIMING:
 		*(int *)result = sc->host.ios.timing;