diff --git a/hw/scsi/esp.c b/hw/scsi/esp.c
index b48e020689..14759ada78 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/esp.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/esp.c
@@ -787,7 +787,9 @@ static void esp_do_nodma(ESPState *s)
     uint32_t cmdlen;
     int len, n;
 
-    if (s->do_cmd) {
+    switch (esp_get_phase(s)) {
+    case STAT_MO:
+    case STAT_CD:
         /* Copy FIFO into cmdfifo */
         n = esp_fifo_pop_buf(&s->fifo, buf, fifo8_num_used(&s->fifo));
         n = MIN(fifo8_num_free(&s->cmdfifo), n);
@@ -816,10 +818,8 @@ static void esp_do_nodma(ESPState *s)
             s->rregs[ESP_RINTR] |= INTR_BS;
             esp_raise_irq(s);
         }
-        return;
-    }
+        break;
 
-    switch (esp_get_phase(s)) {
     case STAT_DO:
         if (!s->current_req) {
             return;