diff --git a/hw/esp.c b/hw/esp.c
index 5c8400d966..30708a1a0d 100644
--- a/hw/esp.c
+++ b/hw/esp.c
@@ -690,7 +690,7 @@ static void espdma_mem_writel(void *opaque, target_phys_addr_t addr, uint32_t va
         val |= DMA_VER;
 	break;
     case 1:
-        s->espdmaregs[0] = DMA_LOADED;
+        s->espdmaregs[0] |= DMA_LOADED;
         break;
     default:
 	break;