diff --git a/drivers/bus/mhi/core/internal.h b/drivers/bus/mhi/core/internal.h
index 5b9ea66..bc239a1 100644
--- a/drivers/bus/mhi/core/internal.h
+++ b/drivers/bus/mhi/core/internal.h
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ void mhi_rddm_prepare(struct mhi_controller *mhi_cntrl,
 		      struct image_info *img_info);
 void mhi_fw_load_handler(struct mhi_controller *mhi_cntrl);
 int mhi_prepare_channel(struct mhi_controller *mhi_cntrl,
-			struct mhi_chan *mhi_chan);
+			struct mhi_chan *mhi_chan, unsigned int flags);
 int mhi_init_chan_ctxt(struct mhi_controller *mhi_cntrl,
 		       struct mhi_chan *mhi_chan);
 void mhi_deinit_chan_ctxt(struct mhi_controller *mhi_cntrl,
diff --git a/drivers/bus/mhi/core/main.c b/drivers/bus/mhi/core/main.c
index 050381d..594fe37 100644
--- a/drivers/bus/mhi/core/main.c
+++ b/drivers/bus/mhi/core/main.c
@@ -1433,7 +1433,7 @@ static void mhi_unprepare_channel(struct mhi_controller *mhi_cntrl,
 }
 
 int mhi_prepare_channel(struct mhi_controller *mhi_cntrl,
-			struct mhi_chan *mhi_chan)
+			struct mhi_chan *mhi_chan, unsigned int flags)
 {
 	int ret = 0;
 	struct device *dev = &mhi_chan->mhi_dev->dev;
@@ -1458,6 +1458,9 @@ int mhi_prepare_channel(struct mhi_controller *mhi_cntrl,
 	if (ret)
 		goto error_pm_state;
 
+	if (mhi_chan->dir == DMA_FROM_DEVICE)
+		mhi_chan->pre_alloc = !!(flags & MHI_CH_INBOUND_ALLOC_BUFS);
+
 	/* Pre-allocate buffer for xfer ring */
 	if (mhi_chan->pre_alloc) {
 		int nr_el = get_nr_avail_ring_elements(mhi_cntrl,
@@ -1613,7 +1616,7 @@ void mhi_reset_chan(struct mhi_controller *mhi_cntrl, struct mhi_chan *mhi_chan)
 }
 
 /* Move channel to start state */
-int mhi_prepare_for_transfer(struct mhi_device *mhi_dev)
+int mhi_prepare_for_transfer(struct mhi_device *mhi_dev, unsigned int flags)
 {
 	int ret, dir;
 	struct mhi_controller *mhi_cntrl = mhi_dev->mhi_cntrl;
@@ -1624,7 +1627,7 @@ int mhi_prepare_for_transfer(struct mhi_device *mhi_dev)
 		if (!mhi_chan)
 			continue;
 
-		ret = mhi_prepare_channel(mhi_cntrl, mhi_chan);
+		ret = mhi_prepare_channel(mhi_cntrl, mhi_chan, flags);
 		if (ret)
 			goto error_open_chan;
 	}
diff --git a/drivers/net/mhi/net.c b/drivers/net/mhi/net.c
index 0d8293a..774e329 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mhi/net.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mhi/net.c
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ static int mhi_net_probe(struct mhi_device *mhi_dev,
 	u64_stats_init(&mhi_netdev->stats.tx_syncp);
 
 	/* Start MHI channels */
-	err = mhi_prepare_for_transfer(mhi_dev);
+	err = mhi_prepare_for_transfer(mhi_dev, 0);
 	if (err)
 		goto out_err;
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/wwan/mhi_wwan_ctrl.c b/drivers/net/wwan/mhi_wwan_ctrl.c
index 1bc6b69..1e18420 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wwan/mhi_wwan_ctrl.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wwan/mhi_wwan_ctrl.c
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ static int mhi_wwan_ctrl_start(struct wwan_port *port)
 	int ret;
 
 	/* Start mhi device's channel(s) */
-	ret = mhi_prepare_for_transfer(mhiwwan->mhi_dev);
+	ret = mhi_prepare_for_transfer(mhiwwan->mhi_dev, 0);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
diff --git a/include/linux/mhi.h b/include/linux/mhi.h
index 5eb626a..eed949c 100644
--- a/include/linux/mhi.h
+++ b/include/linux/mhi.h
@@ -719,8 +719,13 @@ void mhi_device_put(struct mhi_device *mhi_dev);
  *                            host and device execution environments match and
  *                            channels are in a DISABLED state.
  * @mhi_dev: Device associated with the channels
+ * @flags: MHI channel flags
  */
-int mhi_prepare_for_transfer(struct mhi_device *mhi_dev);
+int mhi_prepare_for_transfer(struct mhi_device *mhi_dev,
+			     unsigned int flags);
+
+/* Automatically allocate and queue inbound buffers */
+#define MHI_CH_INBOUND_ALLOC_BUFS BIT(0)
 
 /**
  * mhi_unprepare_from_transfer - Reset UL and DL channels for data transfer.
diff --git a/net/qrtr/mhi.c b/net/qrtr/mhi.c
index fa61167..29b4fa3 100644
--- a/net/qrtr/mhi.c
+++ b/net/qrtr/mhi.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ static int qcom_mhi_qrtr_probe(struct mhi_device *mhi_dev,
 	int rc;
 
 	/* start channels */
-	rc = mhi_prepare_for_transfer(mhi_dev);
+	rc = mhi_prepare_for_transfer(mhi_dev, MHI_CH_INBOUND_ALLOC_BUFS);
 	if (rc)
 		return rc;
 
