diff --git a/arch/mips/kernel/branch.c b/arch/mips/kernel/branch.c
index c0c5e5972256e..fe376aa705c57 100644
--- a/arch/mips/kernel/branch.c
+++ b/arch/mips/kernel/branch.c
@@ -816,8 +816,10 @@ int __compute_return_epc_for_insn(struct pt_regs *regs,
 			break;
 		}
 		/* Compact branch: BNEZC || JIALC */
-		if (insn.i_format.rs)
+		if (!insn.i_format.rs) {
+			/* JIALC: set $31/ra */
 			regs->regs[31] = epc + 4;
+		}
 		regs->cp0_epc += 8;
 		break;
 #endif