diff --git a/drivers/ieee1394/ohci1394.c b/drivers/ieee1394/ohci1394.c
index a485f47bb21e..b12a970cc9a3 100644
--- a/drivers/ieee1394/ohci1394.c
+++ b/drivers/ieee1394/ohci1394.c
@@ -1084,7 +1084,8 @@ static int ohci_devctl(struct hpsb_host *host, enum devctl_cmd cmd, int arg)
 
 			initialize_dma_rcv_ctx(&ohci->ir_legacy_context, 1);
 
-			PRINT(KERN_ERR, "IR legacy activated");
+			if (printk_ratelimit())
+				PRINT(KERN_ERR, "IR legacy activated");
 		}
 
                 spin_lock_irqsave(&ohci->IR_channel_lock, flags);