diff --git a/arch/m68k/mac/misc.c b/arch/m68k/mac/misc.c
index e023fc6b37e5..eb915551de69 100644
--- a/arch/m68k/mac/misc.c
+++ b/arch/m68k/mac/misc.c
@@ -304,35 +304,41 @@ static void via_write_pram(int offset, __u8 data)
 static long via_read_time(void)
 {
 	union {
-		__u8  cdata[4];
-		long  idata;
+		__u8 cdata[4];
+		long idata;
 	} result, last_result;
-	int	ct;
+	int count = 1;
+
+	via_pram_command(0x81, &last_result.cdata[3]);
+	via_pram_command(0x85, &last_result.cdata[2]);
+	via_pram_command(0x89, &last_result.cdata[1]);
+	via_pram_command(0x8D, &last_result.cdata[0]);
 
 	/*
 	 * The NetBSD guys say to loop until you get the same reading
 	 * twice in a row.
 	 */
 
-	ct = 0;
-	do {
-		if (++ct > 10) {
-			printk("via_read_time: couldn't get valid time, "
-			       "last read = 0x%08lx and 0x%08lx\n",
-			       last_result.idata, result.idata);
-			break;
-		}
-
-		last_result.idata = result.idata;
-		result.idata = 0;
-
+	while (1) {
 		via_pram_command(0x81, &result.cdata[3]);
 		via_pram_command(0x85, &result.cdata[2]);
 		via_pram_command(0x89, &result.cdata[1]);
 		via_pram_command(0x8D, &result.cdata[0]);
-	} while (result.idata != last_result.idata);
 
-	return result.idata - RTC_OFFSET;
+		if (result.idata == last_result.idata)
+			return result.idata - RTC_OFFSET;
+
+		if (++count > 10)
+			break;
+
+		last_result.idata = result.idata;
+	}
+
+	pr_err("via_read_time: failed to read a stable value; "
+	       "got 0x%08lx then 0x%08lx\n",
+	       last_result.idata, result.idata);
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 /*