diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/base.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/base.c
index 410fc4cfc4c6..7b80cebffd41 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/base.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath5k/base.c
@@ -2505,7 +2505,7 @@ ath5k_intr(int irq, void *dev_id)
 				ath5k_hw_update_mib_counters(ah, &sc->ll_stats);
 			}
 		}
-	} while (ath5k_hw_is_intr_pending(ah) && counter-- > 0);
+	} while (ath5k_hw_is_intr_pending(ah) && --counter > 0);
 
 	if (unlikely(!counter))
 		ATH5K_WARN(sc, "too many interrupts, giving up for now\n");