diff --git a/drivers/net/dm9000.c b/drivers/net/dm9000.c
index 5ad2ec537684a5eda8ca1bcad93db619d4fa322c..92233400e6f9153e61663663d97d9b7b00b610d1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/dm9000.c
+++ b/drivers/net/dm9000.c
@@ -343,6 +343,8 @@ static int dm9000_wait_eeprom(board_info_t *db)
 		if ((status & EPCR_ERRE) == 0)
 			break;
 
+		msleep(1);
+
 		if (timeout-- < 0) {
 			dev_dbg(db->dev, "timeout waiting EEPROM\n");
 			break;