diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/sun/sunvnet.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/sun/sunvnet.c
index 23c89ab5a6ad..f67539650c38 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/sun/sunvnet.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/sun/sunvnet.c
@@ -350,14 +350,17 @@ static int vnet_walk_rx_one(struct vnet_port *port,
 	if (IS_ERR(desc))
 		return PTR_ERR(desc);
 
+	if (desc->hdr.state != VIO_DESC_READY)
+		return 1;
+
+	rmb();
+
 	viodbg(DATA, "vio_walk_rx_one desc[%02x:%02x:%08x:%08x:%llx:%llx]\n",
 	       desc->hdr.state, desc->hdr.ack,
 	       desc->size, desc->ncookies,
 	       desc->cookies[0].cookie_addr,
 	       desc->cookies[0].cookie_size);
 
-	if (desc->hdr.state != VIO_DESC_READY)
-		return 1;
 	err = vnet_rx_one(port, desc->size, desc->cookies, desc->ncookies);
 	if (err == -ECONNRESET)
 		return err;