diff --git a/drivers/serial/Kconfig b/drivers/serial/Kconfig
index 448e7aef72..cde3dd151c 100644
--- a/drivers/serial/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/serial/Kconfig
@@ -85,7 +85,11 @@ config SERIAL_OFLOWCONTROL
 	bool
 	default n
 
-config SERIAL_DMA
+config SERIAL_TXDMA
+	bool
+	default n
+
+config SERIAL_RXDMA
 	bool
 	default n
 
@@ -466,10 +470,17 @@ config UART_OFLOWCONTROL
 	---help---
 		Enable UART CTS flow control
 
-config UART_DMA
-	bool "UART DMA support"
+config UART_TXDMA
+	bool "UART Tx DMA support"
 	default n
-	select SERIAL_DMA
+	select SERIAL_TXDMA
+	---help---
+		Enable DMA transfers on UART
+
+config UART_RXDMA
+	bool "UART Rx DMA support"
+	default n
+	select SERIAL_RXDMA
 	---help---
 		Enable DMA transfers on UART
 
diff --git a/drivers/serial/Make.defs b/drivers/serial/Make.defs
index 5d1b7c11c3..5789c22608 100644
--- a/drivers/serial/Make.defs
+++ b/drivers/serial/Make.defs
@@ -37,7 +37,9 @@
 
 CSRCS += serial.c serial_io.c lowconsole.c
 
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA),y)
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA),y)
+  CSRCS += serial_dma.c
+else ifeq ($(CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA),y)
   CSRCS += serial_dma.c
 endif
 
diff --git a/drivers/serial/serial.c b/drivers/serial/serial.c
index 981847a097..7236779b5a 100644
--- a/drivers/serial/serial.c
+++ b/drivers/serial/serial.c
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ static int uart_putxmitchar(FAR uart_dev_t *dev, int ch, bool oktoblock)
                * the semaphore.
                */
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
               uart_dmatxavail(dev);
 #endif
               uart_enabletxint(dev);
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ static int uart_tcdrain(FAR uart_dev_t *dev, clock_t timeout)
                * the semaphore.
                */
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
               uart_dmatxavail(dev);
 #endif
               uart_enabletxint(dev);
@@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ static int uart_open(FAR struct file *filep)
            goto errout_with_sem;
         }
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
       /* Notify DMA that there is free space in the RX buffer */
 
       uart_dmarxfree(dev);
@@ -887,7 +887,7 @@ static ssize_t uart_read(FAR struct file *filep, FAR char *buffer, size_t buflen
 
       else
         {
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
           /* Disable all interrupts and test again...
            * uart_disablerxint() is insufficient for the check in DMA mode.
            */
@@ -910,7 +910,7 @@ static ssize_t uart_read(FAR struct file *filep, FAR char *buffer, size_t buflen
                * additional data to be received.
                */
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
               /* Notify DMA that there is free space in the RX buffer */
 
               uart_dmarxfree(dev);
@@ -991,7 +991,7 @@ static ssize_t uart_read(FAR struct file *filep, FAR char *buffer, size_t buflen
                * the loop.
                */
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
               leave_critical_section(flags);
 #else
               uart_enablerxint(dev);
@@ -1000,7 +1000,7 @@ static ssize_t uart_read(FAR struct file *filep, FAR char *buffer, size_t buflen
         }
     }
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
   /* Notify DMA that there is free space in the RX buffer */
 
   flags = enter_critical_section();
@@ -1008,7 +1008,7 @@ static ssize_t uart_read(FAR struct file *filep, FAR char *buffer, size_t buflen
   leave_critical_section(flags);
 #endif
 
-#ifndef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifndef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
   /* RX interrupt could be disabled by RX buffer overflow. Enable it now. */
 
   uart_enablerxint(dev);
@@ -1224,7 +1224,7 @@ static ssize_t uart_write(FAR struct file *filep, FAR const char *buffer,
 
   if (dev->xmit.head != dev->xmit.tail)
     {
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
       uart_dmatxavail(dev);
 #endif
       uart_enabletxint(dev);
diff --git a/drivers/serial/serial_dma.c b/drivers/serial/serial_dma.c
index 9559a4dcd4..17c453a79a 100644
--- a/drivers/serial/serial_dma.c
+++ b/drivers/serial/serial_dma.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 
 #include <nuttx/serial/serial.h>
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#if defined(CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA) || defined(CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA)
 
 /************************************************************************************
  * Private Functions
@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@ static int uart_check_signo(const char *buf, size_t size)
  *
  ************************************************************************************/
 
-#if defined(CONFIG_TTY_SIGINT) || defined(CONFIG_TTY_SIGSTP)
+#if defined(CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA) && \
+   (defined(CONFIG_TTY_SIGINT) || defined(CONFIG_TTY_SIGSTP))
 static int uart_recvchars_signo(FAR uart_dev_t *dev)
 {
   FAR struct uart_dmaxfer_s *xfer = &dev->dmarx;
@@ -144,6 +145,7 @@ static int uart_recvchars_signo(FAR uart_dev_t *dev)
  *
  ************************************************************************************/
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
 void uart_xmitchars_dma(FAR uart_dev_t *dev)
 {
   FAR struct uart_dmaxfer_s *xfer = &dev->dmatx;
@@ -172,6 +174,7 @@ void uart_xmitchars_dma(FAR uart_dev_t *dev)
 
   uart_dmasend(dev);
 }
+#endif
 
 /************************************************************************************
  * Name: uart_xmitchars_done
@@ -183,6 +186,7 @@ void uart_xmitchars_dma(FAR uart_dev_t *dev)
  *
  ************************************************************************************/
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
 void uart_xmitchars_done(FAR uart_dev_t *dev)
 {
   FAR struct uart_dmaxfer_s *xfer = &dev->dmatx;
@@ -204,6 +208,7 @@ void uart_xmitchars_done(FAR uart_dev_t *dev)
       uart_datasent(dev);
     }
 }
+#endif
 
 /************************************************************************************
  * Name: uart_recvchars_dma
@@ -213,6 +218,7 @@ void uart_xmitchars_done(FAR uart_dev_t *dev)
  *
  ************************************************************************************/
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
 void uart_recvchars_dma(FAR uart_dev_t *dev)
 {
   FAR struct uart_dmaxfer_s *xfer = &dev->dmarx;
@@ -331,6 +337,7 @@ void uart_recvchars_dma(FAR uart_dev_t *dev)
 
   uart_dmareceive(dev);
 }
+#endif
 
 /************************************************************************************
  * Name: uart_recvchars_done
@@ -342,6 +349,7 @@ void uart_recvchars_dma(FAR uart_dev_t *dev)
  *
  ************************************************************************************/
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
 void uart_recvchars_done(FAR uart_dev_t *dev)
 {
   FAR struct uart_dmaxfer_s *xfer = &dev->dmarx;
@@ -383,5 +391,6 @@ void uart_recvchars_done(FAR uart_dev_t *dev)
     }
 #endif
 }
+#endif
 
-#endif /* CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA */
+#endif /* CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA || CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA */
diff --git a/drivers/serial/uart_16550.c b/drivers/serial/uart_16550.c
index a2f8a9216f..9d421c03b1 100644
--- a/drivers/serial/uart_16550.c
+++ b/drivers/serial/uart_16550.c
@@ -103,11 +103,13 @@ static bool u16550_rxavailable(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev);
 static bool u16550_rxflowcontrol(struct uart_dev_s *dev, unsigned int nbuffered,
                                  bool upper);
 #endif
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
 static void u16550_dmasend(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev);
+static void u16550_dmatxavail(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev);
+#endif
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
 static void u16550_dmareceive(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev);
 static void u16550_dmarxfree(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev);
-static void u16550_dmatxavail(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev);
 #endif
 static void u16550_send(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev, int ch);
 static void u16550_txint(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev, bool enable);
@@ -131,10 +133,14 @@ static const struct uart_ops_s g_uart_ops =
 #ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_IFLOWCONTROL
   .rxflowcontrol  = u16550_rxflowcontrol,
 #endif
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
   .dmasend        = u16550_dmasend,
+#endif
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
   .dmareceive     = u16550_dmareceive,
   .dmarxfree      = u16550_dmarxfree,
+#endif
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
   .dmatxavail     = u16550_dmatxavail,
 #endif
   .send           = u16550_send,
@@ -1164,11 +1170,13 @@ static bool u16550_rxflowcontrol(struct uart_dev_s *dev, unsigned int nbuffered,
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
 static void u16550_dmasend(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev)
 {
 }
+#endif
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
 static void u16550_dmareceive(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev)
 {
 }
@@ -1176,7 +1184,9 @@ static void u16550_dmareceive(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev)
 static void u16550_dmarxfree(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev)
 {
 }
+#endif
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
 static void u16550_dmatxavail(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev)
 {
 }
diff --git a/drivers/usbdev/cdcacm.c b/drivers/usbdev/cdcacm.c
index f28b540f9b..f91d4fb09d 100644
--- a/drivers/usbdev/cdcacm.c
+++ b/drivers/usbdev/cdcacm.c
@@ -281,10 +281,14 @@ static const struct uart_ops_s g_uartops =
 #ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_IFLOWCONTROL
   cdcuart_rxflowcontrol, /* rxflowcontrol */
 #endif
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
   NULL,                  /* dmasend */
+#endif
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
   NULL,                  /* dmareceive */
   NULL,                  /* dmarxfree */
+#endif
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
   NULL,                  /* dmatxavail */
 #endif
   NULL,                  /* send */
diff --git a/include/nuttx/serial/serial.h b/include/nuttx/serial/serial.h
index c95167af33..0ba6c9f5e7 100644
--- a/include/nuttx/serial/serial.h
+++ b/include/nuttx/serial/serial.h
@@ -105,19 +105,20 @@
 #define uart_send(dev,ch)        dev->ops->send(dev,ch)
 #define uart_receive(dev,s)      dev->ops->receive(dev,s)
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
 #define uart_dmasend(dev)      \
   ((dev)->ops->dmasend ? (dev)->ops->dmasend(dev) : -ENOSYS)
 
+#define uart_dmatxavail(dev)   \
+  ((dev)->ops->dmatxavail ? (dev)->ops->dmatxavail(dev) : -ENOSYS)
+#endif
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
 #define uart_dmareceive(dev)   \
   ((dev)->ops->dmareceive ? (dev)->ops->dmareceive(dev) : -ENOSYS)
 
 #define uart_dmarxfree(dev)    \
   ((dev)->ops->dmarxfree ? (dev)->ops->dmarxfree(dev) : -ENOSYS)
-
-#define uart_dmatxavail(dev)   \
-  ((dev)->ops->dmatxavail ? (dev)->ops->dmatxavail(dev) : -ENOSYS)
-
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_IFLOWCONTROL
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ struct uart_buffer_s
   FAR char        *buffer; /* Pointer to the allocated buffer memory */
 };
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#if defined(CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA) || defined(CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA)
 struct uart_dmaxfer_s
 {
   FAR char        *buffer;  /* First DMA buffer */
@@ -152,7 +153,7 @@ struct uart_dmaxfer_s
   size_t           nlength; /* Length of next DMA buffer */
   size_t           nbytes;  /* Bytes actually transferred by DMA from both buffers */
 };
-#endif /* CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA */
+#endif /* CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA || CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA */
 
 /* This structure defines all of the operations providd by the architecture specific
  * logic.  All fields must be provided with non-NULL function pointers by the
@@ -226,11 +227,13 @@ struct uart_ops_s
                              unsigned int nbuffered, bool upper);
 #endif
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
   /* Start transfer bytes from the TX circular buffer using DMA */
 
   CODE void (*dmasend)(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev);
+#endif
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
   /* Start transfer bytes from the TX circular buffer using DMA */
 
   CODE void (*dmareceive)(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev);
@@ -238,7 +241,9 @@ struct uart_ops_s
   /* Notify DMA that there is free space in the RX buffer */
 
   CODE void (*dmarxfree)(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev);
+#endif
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
   /* Notify DMA that there is data to be transferred in the TX buffer */
 
   CODE void (*dmatxavail)(FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev);
@@ -314,11 +319,12 @@ struct uart_dev_s
   struct uart_buffer_s xmit;         /* Describes transmit buffer */
   struct uart_buffer_s recv;         /* Describes receive buffer */
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
-
   /* DMA transfers */
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
   struct uart_dmaxfer_s dmatx;       /* Describes transmit DMA transfer */
+#endif
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
   struct uart_dmaxfer_s dmarx;       /* Describes receive DMA transfer */
 #endif
 
@@ -449,7 +455,7 @@ void uart_connected(FAR uart_dev_t *dev, bool connected);
  *
  ************************************************************************************/
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
 void uart_xmitchars_dma(FAR uart_dev_t *dev);
 #endif
 
@@ -463,7 +469,7 @@ void uart_xmitchars_dma(FAR uart_dev_t *dev);
  *
  ************************************************************************************/
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_TXDMA
 void uart_xmitchars_done(FAR uart_dev_t *dev);
 #endif
 
@@ -475,7 +481,7 @@ void uart_xmitchars_done(FAR uart_dev_t *dev);
  *
  ************************************************************************************/
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
 void uart_recvchars_dma(FAR uart_dev_t *dev);
 #endif
 
@@ -489,7 +495,7 @@ void uart_recvchars_dma(FAR uart_dev_t *dev);
  *
  ************************************************************************************/
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_DMA
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_RXDMA
 void uart_recvchars_done(FAR uart_dev_t *dev);
 #endif