{
        struct usbnet *dev = usb_get_intfdata(intf);
        struct aqc111_data *aqc111_data = dev->driver_priv;
-       u16 reg16;
+       u16 reg16, oldreg16;
        u8 reg8;
 
        netif_carrier_off(dev->net);
        /* Configure RX control register => start operation */
        reg16 = aqc111_data->rxctl;
        reg16 &= ~SFR_RX_CTL_START;
+       /* needs to be saved in case endianness is swapped */
+       oldreg16 = reg16;
        aqc111_write16_cmd_nopm(dev, AQ_ACCESS_MAC, SFR_RX_CTL, 2, ®16);
 
-       reg16 |= SFR_RX_CTL_START;
+       reg16 = oldreg16 | SFR_RX_CTL_START;
        aqc111_write16_cmd_nopm(dev, AQ_ACCESS_MAC, SFR_RX_CTL, 2, ®16);
 
        aqc111_set_phy_speed(dev, aqc111_data->autoneg,