diff --git a/tests/regression/sgemm_gemmini_dma/kernel.cpp b/tests/regression/sgemm_gemmini_dma/kernel.cpp
index 6b72c92c..6c8b3249 100644
--- a/tests/regression/sgemm_gemmini_dma/kernel.cpp
+++ b/tests/regression/sgemm_gemmini_dma/kernel.cpp
@@ -118,8 +118,10 @@ void thread_block_matmul_gemmini(kernel_arg_t *__UNIFORM__ arg,
           }
 
           if (tile_k == 0) {
+          asm volatile("cisc_start_%=:" ::);
             gemmini_fence();
             GEMMINI_CISC_CMD_I(0);
+          asm volatile("cisc_end_%=:" ::);
           } else if (tile_k & 1) {
             gemmini_fence();
             GEMMINI_CISC_CMD_I(2);