}
 
 #define LINE6_READ_WRITE_STATUS_DELAY 2  /* milliseconds */
+#define LINE6_READ_WRITE_MAX_RETRIES 50
 
 /*
        Read data from device.
        struct usb_device *usbdev = line6->usbdev;
        int ret;
        unsigned char len;
+       unsigned count;
 
        /* query the serial number: */
        ret = usb_control_msg(usbdev, usb_sndctrlpipe(usbdev, 0), 0x67,
        }
 
        /* Wait for data length. We'll get 0xff until length arrives. */
-       do {
+       for (count = 0; count < LINE6_READ_WRITE_MAX_RETRIES; count++) {
                mdelay(LINE6_READ_WRITE_STATUS_DELAY);
 
                ret = usb_control_msg(usbdev, usb_rcvctrlpipe(usbdev, 0), 0x67,
                                "receive length failed (error %d)\n", ret);
                        return ret;
                }
-       } while (len == 0xff);
 
-       if (len != datalen) {
+               if (len != 0xff)
+                       break;
+       }
+
+       if (len == 0xff) {
+               dev_err(line6->ifcdev, "read failed after %d retries\n",
+                       count);
+               return -EIO;
+       } else if (len != datalen) {
                /* should be equal or something went wrong */
                dev_err(line6->ifcdev,
                        "length mismatch (expected %d, got %d)\n",
        struct usb_device *usbdev = line6->usbdev;
        int ret;
        unsigned char status;
+       int count;
 
        ret = usb_control_msg(usbdev, usb_sndctrlpipe(usbdev, 0), 0x67,
                              USB_TYPE_VENDOR | USB_RECIP_DEVICE | USB_DIR_OUT,
                return ret;
        }
 
-       do {
+       for (count = 0; count < LINE6_READ_WRITE_MAX_RETRIES; count++) {
                mdelay(LINE6_READ_WRITE_STATUS_DELAY);
 
                ret = usb_control_msg(usbdev, usb_rcvctrlpipe(usbdev, 0),
                                "receiving status failed (error %d)\n", ret);
                        return ret;
                }
-       } while (status == 0xff);
 
-       if (status != 0) {
+               if (status != 0xff)
+                       break;
+       }
+
+       if (status == 0xff) {
+               dev_err(line6->ifcdev, "write failed after %d retries\n",
+                       count);
+               return -EIO;
+       } else if (status != 0) {
                dev_err(line6->ifcdev, "write failed (error %d)\n", ret);
                return -EINVAL;
        }