diff --git a/drivers/target/target_core_transport.c b/drivers/target/target_core_transport.c
index 9ea0d5f03f7a..be877bf6f730 100644
--- a/drivers/target/target_core_transport.c
+++ b/drivers/target/target_core_transport.c
@@ -2292,7 +2292,7 @@ transport_generic_new_cmd(struct se_cmd *cmd)
 	 * and let it call back once the write buffers are ready.
 	 */
 	target_add_to_state_list(cmd);
-	if (cmd->data_direction != DMA_TO_DEVICE) {
+	if (cmd->data_direction != DMA_TO_DEVICE || cmd->data_length == 0) {
 		target_execute_cmd(cmd);
 		return 0;
 	}