diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_ringbuffer.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_ringbuffer.c
index 05969f03c0c1..320f1bae3e8a 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_ringbuffer.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_ringbuffer.c
@@ -532,6 +532,9 @@ static int init_ring_common(struct intel_engine_cs *ring)
 	else
 		ring_setup_phys_status_page(ring);
 
+#define HEADSTART 64
+	ring->write_tail(ring, HEADSTART);
+
 	/* Initialize the ring. This must happen _after_ we've cleared the ring
 	 * registers with the above sequence (the readback of the HEAD registers
 	 * also enforces ordering), otherwise the hw might lose the new ring
@@ -544,7 +547,7 @@ static int init_ring_common(struct intel_engine_cs *ring)
 	/* If the head is still not zero, the ring is dead */
 	if (wait_for((I915_READ_CTL(ring) & RING_VALID) != 0 &&
 		     I915_READ_START(ring) == i915_gem_obj_ggtt_offset(obj) &&
-		     (I915_READ_HEAD(ring) & HEAD_ADDR) == 0, 50)) {
+		     (I915_READ_HEAD(ring) & HEAD_ADDR) == HEADSTART, 50)) {
 		DRM_ERROR("%s initialization failed "
 			  "ctl %08x (valid? %d) head %08x tail %08x start %08x [expected %08lx]\n",
 			  ring->name,