diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/qlogic/qlcnic/qlcnic_83xx_vnic.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/qlogic/qlcnic/qlcnic_83xx_vnic.c
index be7d7a62cc0d..b1a452f291ee 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/qlogic/qlcnic/qlcnic_83xx_vnic.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/qlogic/qlcnic/qlcnic_83xx_vnic.c
@@ -246,7 +246,8 @@ int qlcnic_83xx_check_vnic_state(struct qlcnic_adapter *adapter)
 	u32 state;
 
 	state = QLCRDX(ahw, QLC_83XX_VNIC_STATE);
-	while (state != QLCNIC_DEV_NPAR_OPER && idc->vnic_wait_limit--) {
+	while (state != QLCNIC_DEV_NPAR_OPER && idc->vnic_wait_limit) {
+		idc->vnic_wait_limit--;
 		msleep(1000);
 		state = QLCRDX(ahw, QLC_83XX_VNIC_STATE);
 	}