diff --git a/src/panfrost/bifrost/bir.c b/src/panfrost/bifrost/bir.c
index fa45ee7d1f1..6433726c80b 100644
--- a/src/panfrost/bifrost/bir.c
+++ b/src/panfrost/bifrost/bir.c
@@ -86,7 +86,10 @@ bi_count_staging_registers(const bi_instr *ins)
 unsigned
 bi_count_read_registers(const bi_instr *ins, unsigned s)
 {
-        if (s == 0 && bi_opcode_props[ins->op].sr_read)
+        /* PATOM_C reads 1 but writes 2 */
+        if (s == 0 && ins->op == BI_OPCODE_PATOM_C_I32)
+                return 1;
+        else if (s == 0 && bi_opcode_props[ins->op].sr_read)
                 return bi_count_staging_registers(ins);
         else
                 return 1;