diff --git a/drivers/usb/serial/io_ti.c b/drivers/usb/serial/io_ti.c
index 3abbdaa..590f27d 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/serial/io_ti.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/serial/io_ti.c
@@ -2088,6 +2088,7 @@
 	struct edgeport_port *edge_port = usb_get_serial_port_data(port);
 	int chars = 0;
 	unsigned long flags;
+	int ret;
 
 	if (edge_port == NULL)
 		return 0;
@@ -2098,6 +2099,12 @@
 	chars = kfifo_len(&edge_port->write_fifo);
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&edge_port->ep_lock, flags);
 
+	if (!chars) {
+		ret = tx_active(edge_port);
+		if (ret > 0)
+			chars = ret;
+	}
+
 	dev_dbg(&port->dev, "%s - returns %d\n", __func__, chars);
 	return chars;
 }