diff --git a/target/linux/cns3xxx/files/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/cns3xxx_eth.c b/target/linux/cns3xxx/files/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/cns3xxx_eth.c
index 7a5c44cad6..c9040b1647 100644
--- a/target/linux/cns3xxx/files/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/cns3xxx_eth.c
+++ b/target/linux/cns3xxx/files/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/cns3xxx_eth.c
@@ -619,8 +619,9 @@ static int eth_poll(struct napi_struct *napi, int budget)
 	unsigned int length;
 	unsigned int i = rx_ring->cur_index;
 	struct rx_desc *desc = &(rx_ring)->desc[i];
+	unsigned int alloc_count = rx_ring->alloc_count;
 
-	while (desc->cown) {
+	while (desc->cown && alloc_count + received < RX_DESCS - 1) {
 		struct sk_buff *skb;
 		int reserve = SKB_HEAD_ALIGN;