diff --git a/arch/powerpc/cpu/mpc85xx/interrupts.c b/arch/powerpc/cpu/mpc85xx/interrupts.c
index a36a4af9daa84d7819d5aa804f2f15595f20100d..daf46a9ba86d83279a3654e6cef28f0e9f6e98d4 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/cpu/mpc85xx/interrupts.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/cpu/mpc85xx/interrupts.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ int interrupt_init_cpu(unsigned int *decrementer_count)
 	*decrementer_count = get_tbclk() / CONFIG_SYS_HZ;
 
 	/* PIE is same as DIE, dec interrupt enable */
-	mtspr(SPRN_TCR, TCR_PIE);
+	mtspr(SPRN_TCR, mfspr(SPRN_TCR) | TCR_PIE);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_INTERRUPTS
 	pic->iivpr1 = 0x810001;	/* 50220 enable ecm interrupts */