diff --git a/cpu/ppc4xx/miiphy.c b/cpu/ppc4xx/miiphy.c
index 6a92bf8..fa3bfc8 100644
--- a/cpu/ppc4xx/miiphy.c
+++ b/cpu/ppc4xx/miiphy.c
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@
 		return -1;
 
 	sta_reg = in_be32((void *)EMAC_STACR + emac_reg);
-	*value = *(u16 *)(&sta_reg);
+	*value = sta_reg >> 16;
 
 	return 0;
 }