diff --git a/drivers/char/rtc.c b/drivers/char/rtc.c
index 20380a2c4dee..22cf7aa56cc4 100644
--- a/drivers/char/rtc.c
+++ b/drivers/char/rtc.c
@@ -1159,7 +1159,8 @@ static void rtc_dropped_irq(unsigned long data)
 
 	spin_unlock_irq(&rtc_lock);
 
-	printk(KERN_WARNING "rtc: lost some interrupts at %ldHz.\n", freq);
+	if (printk_ratelimit())
+		printk(KERN_WARNING "rtc: lost some interrupts at %ldHz.\n", freq);
 
 	/* Now we have new data */
 	wake_up_interruptible(&rtc_wait);