diff --git a/drivers/char/rtc.c b/drivers/char/rtc.c
index 5f80a9dff573..909cac93fa2a 100644
--- a/drivers/char/rtc.c
+++ b/drivers/char/rtc.c
@@ -678,12 +678,13 @@ static int rtc_do_ioctl(unsigned int cmd, unsigned long arg, int kernel)
 		if (arg != (1<<tmp))
 			return -EINVAL;
 
+		rtc_freq = arg;
+
 		spin_lock_irqsave(&rtc_lock, flags);
 		if (hpet_set_periodic_freq(arg)) {
 			spin_unlock_irqrestore(&rtc_lock, flags);
 			return 0;
 		}
-		rtc_freq = arg;
 
 		val = CMOS_READ(RTC_FREQ_SELECT) & 0xf0;
 		val |= (16 - tmp);