unsigned long m, t;
 
                t = devp->hd_ireqfreq;
-               m = read_counter(&devp->hd_hpet->hpet_mc);
-               write_counter(t + m + devp->hd_hpets->hp_delta,
-                             &devp->hd_timer->hpet_compare);
+               m = read_counter(&devp->hd_timer->hpet_compare);
+               write_counter(t + m, &devp->hd_timer->hpet_compare);
        }
 
        if (devp->hd_flags & HPET_SHARED_IRQ)
        g = v | Tn_32MODE_CNF_MASK | Tn_INT_ENB_CNF_MASK;
 
        if (devp->hd_flags & HPET_PERIODIC) {
-               write_counter(t, &timer->hpet_compare);
                g |= Tn_TYPE_CNF_MASK;
-               v |= Tn_TYPE_CNF_MASK;
-               writeq(v, &timer->hpet_config);
-               v |= Tn_VAL_SET_CNF_MASK;
+               v |= Tn_TYPE_CNF_MASK | Tn_VAL_SET_CNF_MASK;
                writeq(v, &timer->hpet_config);
                local_irq_save(flags);
 
-               /* NOTE:  what we modify here is a hidden accumulator
+               /*
+                * NOTE: First we modify the hidden accumulator
                 * register supported by periodic-capable comparators.
                 * We never want to modify the (single) counter; that
-                * would affect all the comparators.
+                * would affect all the comparators. The value written
+                * is the counter value when the first interrupt is due.
                 */
                m = read_counter(&hpet->hpet_mc);
                write_counter(t + m + hpetp->hp_delta, &timer->hpet_compare);
+               /*
+                * Then we modify the comparator, indicating the period
+                * for subsequent interrupt.
+                */
+               write_counter(t, &timer->hpet_compare);
        } else {
                local_irq_save(flags);
                m = read_counter(&hpet->hpet_mc);