diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/orinoco.c b/drivers/net/wireless/orinoco.c
index 936c888e03e15aa44352285ea3c952a15ea587e0..2a65bb93de26f6b1e87b0af1aba5d6d349e0121f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/orinoco.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/orinoco.c
@@ -2059,7 +2059,7 @@ static int determine_firmware(struct net_device *dev)
 	int err;
 	struct comp_id nic_id, sta_id;
 	unsigned int firmver;
-	char tmp[SYMBOL_MAX_VER_LEN+1];
+	char tmp[SYMBOL_MAX_VER_LEN+1] __attribute__((aligned(2)));
 
 	/* Get the hardware version */
 	err = HERMES_READ_RECORD(hw, USER_BAP, HERMES_RID_NICID, &nic_id);