diff --git a/arch/powerpc/boot/ugecon.c b/arch/powerpc/boot/ugecon.c
index 50609ea6ddf8..8f2a6b311534 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/boot/ugecon.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/boot/ugecon.c
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ static void ug_putc(char ch)
 
 	while (!ug_is_txfifo_ready() && count--)
 		barrier();
-	if (count)
+	if (count >= 0)
 		ug_raw_putc(ch);
 }
 
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/platforms/embedded6xx/usbgecko_udbg.c b/arch/powerpc/platforms/embedded6xx/usbgecko_udbg.c
index edc956cc8b13..20a8ed91962e 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/platforms/embedded6xx/usbgecko_udbg.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/platforms/embedded6xx/usbgecko_udbg.c
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ static void ug_putc(char ch)
 
 	while (!ug_is_txfifo_ready() && count--)
 		barrier();
-	if (count)
+	if (count >= 0)
 		ug_raw_putc(ch);
 }