diff --git a/drivers/net/smsc911x.c b/drivers/net/smsc911x.c
index 783c1a7b869e..9a78daec2fe9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/smsc911x.c
+++ b/drivers/net/smsc911x.c
@@ -1624,7 +1624,7 @@ static int smsc911x_eeprom_send_cmd(struct smsc911x_data *pdata, u32 op)
 	do {
 		msleep(1);
 		e2cmd = smsc911x_reg_read(pdata, E2P_CMD);
-	} while ((e2cmd & E2P_CMD_EPC_BUSY_) && (timeout--));
+	} while ((e2cmd & E2P_CMD_EPC_BUSY_) && (--timeout));
 
 	if (!timeout) {
 		SMSC_TRACE(DRV, "TIMED OUT");