<p>A method and apparatus is provided for prefetching in a data processing system (10). The data processing system (10) has a bus master (14) and a memory controller (16) coupled to a bus (12). A memory (18) is coupled to the memory controller (16). In the data processing system (14) an address is driven onto the bus (12). Before the address is qualified, data corresponding to the address is prefetched. Prefetching the data before the address is qualified allows prefetches to be accomplished sooner.</p>