Apparatuses, systems, and techniques for handling faults by a direct memory access (DMA) engine. When a DMA engine detects an error associated with an encryption or decryption operation, the DMA engine reports the error to a CPU, which may be executing an untrusted software directing a DMA operation, and the secure processor. The DMA engine waits for clearance from the secure processor before responding to further directions from the potentially untrusted software.