diff --git a/hdl/rtl/EF_QSPI_XIP_CTRL.v b/hdl/rtl/EF_QSPI_XIP_CTRL.v
index d21d482..24a0588 100644
--- a/hdl/rtl/EF_QSPI_XIP_CTRL.v
+++ b/hdl/rtl/EF_QSPI_XIP_CTRL.v
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ module FLASH_READER_QSPI #(parameter LINE_SIZE   = 16)(
                 READ =  1'b1;
 
     reg         state, nstate;
-    reg [7:0]   counter;
+    (* keep *) reg [7:0]   counter;
     reg [23:0]  saddr;
     reg [7:0]   data [LINE_BYTES-1 : 0]; 
 
@@ -296,4 +296,4 @@ module EF_QSPI_XIP_CTRL #( parameter    NUM_LINES   = 16,
         .douten(rst_douten)  
     );
 
-endmodule
\ No newline at end of file
+endmodule