diff --git a/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core_main.c b/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core_main.c
index 029a7acf7b7a..1ea6b70d4855 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core_main.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/net/qeth_core_main.c
@@ -4765,14 +4765,14 @@ static struct ccw_driver qeth_ccw_driver = {
 
 int qeth_core_hardsetup_card(struct qeth_card *card)
 {
-	int retries = 0;
+	int retries = 3;
 	int rc;
 
 	QETH_DBF_TEXT(SETUP, 2, "hrdsetup");
 	atomic_set(&card->force_alloc_skb, 0);
 	qeth_update_from_chp_desc(card);
 retry:
-	if (retries)
+	if (retries < 3)
 		QETH_DBF_MESSAGE(2, "%s Retrying to do IDX activates.\n",
 			dev_name(&card->gdev->dev));
 	ccw_device_set_offline(CARD_DDEV(card));
@@ -4794,7 +4794,7 @@ retriable:
 		return rc;
 	} else if (rc) {
 		QETH_DBF_TEXT_(SETUP, 2, "1err%d", rc);
-		if (++retries > 3)
+		if (--retries < 0)
 			goto out;
 		else
 			goto retry;