diff --git a/drivers/ata/libahci.c b/drivers/ata/libahci.c
index 666850d31df2..68dc6785472f 100644
--- a/drivers/ata/libahci.c
+++ b/drivers/ata/libahci.c
@@ -1326,7 +1326,7 @@ int ahci_do_softreset(struct ata_link *link, unsigned int *class,
 	/* issue the first D2H Register FIS */
 	msecs = 0;
 	now = jiffies;
-	if (time_after(now, deadline))
+	if (time_after(deadline, now))
 		msecs = jiffies_to_msecs(deadline - now);
 
 	tf.ctl |= ATA_SRST;