diff --git a/tools/gen_eth_addr.c b/tools/gen_eth_addr.c
index bf9d935efd..5fa3e0cf56 100644
--- a/tools/gen_eth_addr.c
+++ b/tools/gen_eth_addr.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
     unsigned long ethaddr_low, ethaddr_high;
 
-    srand(time(0) | getpid());
+    srand(time(0) + (getpid() << 8));
 
     /*
      * setting the 2nd LSB in the most significant byte of