diff --git a/drivers/net/natsemi.c b/drivers/net/natsemi.c
index ce12c3b626..e09da1d2ae 100644
--- a/drivers/net/natsemi.c
+++ b/drivers/net/natsemi.c
@@ -754,7 +754,8 @@ natsemi_send(struct eth_device *dev, volatile void *packet, int length)
 {
 	u32 i, status = 0;
 	u32 tx_status = 0;
-	vu_long *res = (vu_long *)&tx_status;
+	u32 *tx_ptr = &tx_status;
+	vu_long *res = (vu_long *)tx_ptr;
 
 	/* Stop the transmitter */
 	OUTL(dev, TxOff, ChipCmd);