diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/mvmdio.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/mvmdio.c
index 7354960b583b..c4eeb69a5bee 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/mvmdio.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/marvell/mvmdio.c
@@ -92,6 +92,12 @@ static int orion_mdio_wait_ready(struct mii_bus *bus)
 			if (time_is_before_jiffies(end))
 				++timedout;
 	        } else {
+			/* wait_event_timeout does not guarantee a delay of at
+			 * least one whole jiffie, so timeout must be no less
+			 * than two.
+			 */
+			if (timeout < 2)
+				timeout = 2;
 			wait_event_timeout(dev->smi_busy_wait,
 				           orion_mdio_smi_is_done(dev),
 				           timeout);