diff --git a/src/target/mips_ejtag.c b/src/target/mips_ejtag.c
index 698e0b839..c1df67b18 100644
--- a/src/target/mips_ejtag.c
+++ b/src/target/mips_ejtag.c
@@ -144,6 +144,8 @@ int mips_ejtag_drscan_32(mips_ejtag_t *ejtag_info, u32 *data)
 		return retval;
 	}
 
+	keep_alive();
+
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }