diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1c/atl1c_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1c/atl1c_main.c
index 1ff3c6df35a2..47a9bb2c813c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1c/atl1c_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/atheros/atl1c/atl1c_main.c
@@ -1710,7 +1710,7 @@ static irqreturn_t atl1c_intr(int irq, void *data)
 					"atl1c hardware error (status = 0x%x)\n",
 					status & ISR_ERROR);
 			/* reset MAC */
-			adapter->work_event |= ATL1C_WORK_EVENT_RESET;
+			set_bit(ATL1C_WORK_EVENT_RESET, &adapter->work_event);
 			schedule_work(&adapter->common_task);
 			return IRQ_HANDLED;
 		}