diff --git a/arch/powerpc/sysdev/mpic_pasemi_msi.c b/arch/powerpc/sysdev/mpic_pasemi_msi.c
index 33cbfb22ce3..68aff607667 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/sysdev/mpic_pasemi_msi.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/sysdev/mpic_pasemi_msi.c
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ static int pasemi_msi_setup_msi_irqs(struct pci_dev *pdev, int nvec, int type)
 	unsigned int virq;
 	struct msi_desc *entry;
 	struct msi_msg msg;
+	int ret;
 
 	pr_debug("pasemi_msi_setup_msi_irqs, pdev %p nvec %d type %d\n",
 		 pdev, nvec, type);
@@ -108,8 +109,9 @@ static int pasemi_msi_setup_msi_irqs(struct pci_dev *pdev, int nvec, int type)
 		 * few MSIs for someone, but restrictions will apply to how the
 		 * sources can be changed independently.
 		 */
-		hwirq = mpic_msi_alloc_hwirqs(msi_mpic, ALLOC_CHUNK);
-		if (hwirq < 0) {
+		ret = mpic_msi_alloc_hwirqs(msi_mpic, ALLOC_CHUNK);
+		hwirq = ret;
+		if (ret < 0) {
 			pr_debug("pasemi_msi: failed allocating hwirq\n");
 			return hwirq;
 		}