diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-ixp23xx/pci.c b/arch/arm/mach-ixp23xx/pci.c
index 3b34fa35e36b..ac7d43d23c28 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-ixp23xx/pci.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-ixp23xx/pci.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 
 extern int (*external_fault) (unsigned long, struct pt_regs *);
 
-static int pci_master_aborts = 0;
+static volatile int pci_master_aborts = 0;
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
 #define DBG(x...)	printk(x)