diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
index 217c1a0f8940..2fd3dd4b8b81 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb_main.c
@@ -1250,7 +1250,6 @@ static void gem_rx_refill(struct macb_queue *queue)
 		/* Make hw descriptor updates visible to CPU */
 		rmb();
 
-		queue->rx_prepared_head++;
 		desc = macb_rx_desc(queue, entry);
 
 		if (!queue->rx_skbuff[entry]) {
@@ -1289,6 +1288,7 @@ static void gem_rx_refill(struct macb_queue *queue)
 			dma_wmb();
 			desc->addr &= ~MACB_BIT(RX_USED);
 		}
+		queue->rx_prepared_head++;
 	}
 
 	/* Make descriptor updates visible to hardware */