diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/pegasus.c b/drivers/net/usb/pegasus.c
index 09699054b54f..03e8a15d7deb 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/pegasus.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/pegasus.c
@@ -256,8 +256,9 @@ static int mdio_read(struct net_device *dev, int phy_id, int loc)
 static void mdio_write(struct net_device *dev, int phy_id, int loc, int val)
 {
 	pegasus_t *pegasus = netdev_priv(dev);
+	u16 data = val;
 
-	write_mii_word(pegasus, phy_id, loc, (__u16 *)&val);
+	write_mii_word(pegasus, phy_id, loc, &data);
 }
 
 static int read_eprom_word(pegasus_t *pegasus, __u8 index, __u16 *retdata)