diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/omap-serial.c b/drivers/tty/serial/omap-serial.c
index 6420ae581a80..5f808d8dfcd5 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/omap-serial.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/omap-serial.c
@@ -493,10 +493,13 @@ static unsigned int check_modem_status(struct uart_omap_port *up)
 static void serial_omap_rlsi(struct uart_omap_port *up, unsigned int lsr)
 {
 	unsigned int flag;
-	unsigned char ch = 0;
 
+	/*
+	 * Read one data character out to avoid stalling the receiver according
+	 * to the table 23-246 of the omap4 TRM.
+	 */
 	if (likely(lsr & UART_LSR_DR))
-		ch = serial_in(up, UART_RX);
+		serial_in(up, UART_RX);
 
 	up->port.icount.rx++;
 	flag = TTY_NORMAL;