diff --git a/sys/dev/dc/if_dc.c b/sys/dev/dc/if_dc.c
index ec18090e5d5..7bf23e19a4d 100644
--- a/sys/dev/dc/if_dc.c
+++ b/sys/dev/dc/if_dc.c
@@ -2953,7 +2953,7 @@ static void dc_start(ifp)
 
 	DC_LOCK(sc);
 
-	if (!sc->dc_link) {
+	if (!sc->dc_link && ifp->if_snd.ifq_len < 10) {
 		DC_UNLOCK(sc);
 		return;
 	}
diff --git a/sys/pci/if_dc.c b/sys/pci/if_dc.c
index ec18090e5d5..7bf23e19a4d 100644
--- a/sys/pci/if_dc.c
+++ b/sys/pci/if_dc.c
@@ -2953,7 +2953,7 @@ static void dc_start(ifp)
 
 	DC_LOCK(sc);
 
-	if (!sc->dc_link) {
+	if (!sc->dc_link && ifp->if_snd.ifq_len < 10) {
 		DC_UNLOCK(sc);
 		return;
 	}