diff --git a/src/drivers/net/intel.c b/src/drivers/net/intel.c
index 04e86dd4..f5601263 100644
--- a/src/drivers/net/intel.c
+++ b/src/drivers/net/intel.c
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ int intel_transmit ( struct net_device *netdev, struct io_buffer *iobuf ) {
 	physaddr_t address;
 
 	/* Get next transmit descriptor */
-	if ( ( intel->tx.prod - intel->tx.cons ) >= INTEL_NUM_TX_DESC ) {
+	if ( ( intel->tx.prod - intel->tx.cons ) >= INTEL_TX_FILL ) {
 		DBGC ( intel, "INTEL %p out of transmit descriptors\n", intel );
 		return -ENOBUFS;
 	}
diff --git a/src/drivers/net/intel.h b/src/drivers/net/intel.h
index 20b4255e..8ce9ea97 100644
--- a/src/drivers/net/intel.h
+++ b/src/drivers/net/intel.h
@@ -156,6 +156,9 @@ enum intel_descriptor_status {
  */
 #define INTEL_NUM_TX_DESC 16
 
+/** Transmit descriptor ring maximum fill level */
+#define INTEL_TX_FILL ( INTEL_NUM_TX_DESC - 1 )
+
 /** Receive/Transmit Descriptor Base Address Low (offset) */
 #define INTEL_xDBAL 0x00