diff --git a/drivers/natsemi.c b/drivers/natsemi.c
index 1c1b9a0..b009db6 100644
--- a/drivers/natsemi.c
+++ b/drivers/natsemi.c
@@ -756,6 +756,7 @@
 {
 	u32 i, status = 0;
 	u32 tx_status = 0;
+	vu_long *res = (vu_long *)&tx_status;
 
 	/* Stop the transmitter */
 	OUTL(dev, TxOff, ChipCmd);
@@ -781,7 +782,7 @@
 	OUTL(dev, TxOn, ChipCmd);
 
 	for (i = 0;
-	     ((vu_long)tx_status = le32_to_cpu(txd.cmdsts)) & DescOwn;
+	     (*res = le32_to_cpu(txd.cmdsts)) & DescOwn;
 	     i++) {
 		if (i >= TOUT_LOOP) {
 			printf