diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-mmp/time.c b/arch/arm/mach-mmp/time.c
index 41b2e8abc9e6..708816caf859 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-mmp/time.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-mmp/time.c
@@ -43,18 +43,21 @@
 static void __iomem *mmp_timer_base = TIMERS_VIRT_BASE;
 
 /*
- * FIXME: the timer needs some delay to stablize the counter capture
+ * Read the timer through the CVWR register. Delay is required after requesting
+ * a read. The CR register cannot be directly read due to metastability issues
+ * documented in the PXA168 software manual.
  */
 static inline uint32_t timer_read(void)
 {
-	int delay = 100;
+	uint32_t val;
+	int delay = 3;
 
 	__raw_writel(1, mmp_timer_base + TMR_CVWR(1));
 
 	while (delay--)
-		cpu_relax();
+		val = __raw_readl(mmp_timer_base + TMR_CVWR(1));
 
-	return __raw_readl(mmp_timer_base + TMR_CVWR(1));
+	return val;
 }
 
 static u64 notrace mmp_read_sched_clock(void)