diff --git a/iree/turbine/kernel/wave/codegen/read_write.py b/iree/turbine/kernel/wave/codegen/read_write.py
index 7a0f1fc2b..d552817e4 100644
--- a/iree/turbine/kernel/wave/codegen/read_write.py
+++ b/iree/turbine/kernel/wave/codegen/read_write.py
@@ -405,7 +405,9 @@ def _create_vec_read(
     if mask is None and offsets_vec is None:
         return vector_d.load(vector_type, mem, start_indices)
 
-    is_gather = offsets_vec is not None
+    # Only use buffer ops if it's gather/scatter on global mem.
+    use_buffer_ops = offsets_vec is not None and mem.type.memory_space is None
+
     element_type = vector_type.element_type
     if offsets_vec is None:
         offsets_vec_type = VectorType.get(vector_type.shape, IndexType.get())
@@ -420,9 +422,9 @@ def _create_vec_read(
     strides = strides_from_symbolic_shape(
         IndexingContext.current(), symbolic_shape, allow_mixed_shapes=True
     )
-    use_buffer_ops = emitter.params.get("use_buffer_load_ops", False)
+    buffer_ops_enabled = emitter.params.get("use_buffer_load_ops", False)
     has_int_strides = all(isinstance(s, int) for s in strides)
-    if use_buffer_ops and has_int_strides and is_gather:
+    if buffer_ops_enabled and has_int_strides and use_buffer_ops:
         result = vector_d.splat(vector_type, zero)
 
         strides = [gen_sympy_index(add_emitter_subs(emitter), s) for s in strides]
@@ -563,7 +565,9 @@ def _create_vec_write(
         vector_d.store(value, mem, start_indices)
         return
 
-    is_scatter = offsets_vec is not None
+    # Only use buffer ops if it's gather/scatter on global mem.
+    use_buffer_ops = offsets_vec is not None and mem.type.memory_space is None
+
     vector_type = value.type
     element_type = vector_type.element_type
     if offsets_vec is None:
@@ -576,9 +580,9 @@ def _create_vec_write(
     strides = strides_from_symbolic_shape(
         IndexingContext.current(), symbolic_shape, allow_mixed_shapes=True
     )
-    use_buffer_ops = emitter.params.get("use_buffer_store_ops", False)
+    buffer_ops_enabled = emitter.params.get("use_buffer_store_ops", False)
     has_int_strides = all(isinstance(s, int) for s in strides)
-    if use_buffer_ops and has_int_strides and is_scatter:
+    if buffer_ops_enabled and has_int_strides and use_buffer_ops:
         strides = [gen_sympy_index(add_emitter_subs(emitter), s) for s in strides]
         data, offset_th = _linearize_memref(
             mem, start_indices_wg, start_indices_th, strides