diff --git a/target/nios2/cpu.c b/target/nios2/cpu.c
index 52ebda89ca..58688e1623 100644
--- a/target/nios2/cpu.c
+++ b/target/nios2/cpu.c
@@ -71,8 +71,7 @@ static void nios2_cpu_set_irq(void *opaque, int irq, int level)
     CPUNios2State *env = &cpu->env;
     CPUState *cs = CPU(cpu);
 
-    env->regs[CR_IPENDING] &= ~(1 << irq);
-    env->regs[CR_IPENDING] |= !!level << irq;
+    env->regs[CR_IPENDING] = deposit32(env->regs[CR_IPENDING], irq, 1, !!level);
 
     env->irq_pending = env->regs[CR_IPENDING] & env->regs[CR_IENABLE];