diff --git a/mm/iob/iob_alloc.c b/mm/iob/iob_alloc.c
index 9b7e62a6d2..5acaebe141 100644
--- a/mm/iob/iob_alloc.c
+++ b/mm/iob/iob_alloc.c
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ static FAR struct iob_s *iob_allocwait(bool throttled, unsigned int timeout)
                * we will have to wait again.
                */
 
-              nxsem_post(sem);
+              sem->semcount++;
               iob = iob_tryalloc(throttled);
             }