diff --git a/arch/mips/alchemy/common/setup.c b/arch/mips/alchemy/common/setup.c
index 3f036b3d400e..6184baa56786 100644
--- a/arch/mips/alchemy/common/setup.c
+++ b/arch/mips/alchemy/common/setup.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 #include <linux/init.h>
 #include <linux/ioport.h>
+#include <linux/jiffies.h>
 #include <linux/module.h>
 #include <linux/pm.h>
 
@@ -53,6 +54,9 @@ void __init plat_mem_setup(void)
 	printk(KERN_INFO "(PRId %08x) @ %lu.%02lu MHz\n", read_c0_prid(),
 	       est_freq / 1000000, ((est_freq % 1000000) * 100) / 1000000);
 
+	/* this is faster than wasting cycles trying to approximate it */
+	preset_lpj = (est_freq >> 1) / HZ;
+
 	_machine_restart = au1000_restart;
 	_machine_halt = au1000_halt;
 	pm_power_off = au1000_power_off;