diff --git a/include/configs/socfpga_cyclone5.h b/include/configs/socfpga_cyclone5.h
index 7646a857c3..262e7445f6 100644
--- a/include/configs/socfpga_cyclone5.h
+++ b/include/configs/socfpga_cyclone5.h
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@
 #else
 #define CONFIG_SYS_TIMER_RATE		25000000
 #endif
+#define CONFIG_SYS_TIMER_COUNTS_DOWN
 #define CONFIG_SYS_TIMER_COUNTER	(CONFIG_SYS_TIMERBASE + 0x4)
 
 #define CONFIG_ENV_IS_NOWHERE