diff --git a/rocket/src/main/scala/util.scala b/rocket/src/main/scala/util.scala
index df99e432..fbc00ebb 100644
--- a/rocket/src/main/scala/util.scala
+++ b/rocket/src/main/scala/util.scala
@@ -259,10 +259,11 @@ class LockingArbiter[T <: Data](n: Int)(data: => T) extends Component {
 
 object PriorityEncoder
 {
-  def apply(in: Bits, n: Int = 0): UFix = {
+  def apply(in: Bits): UFix = doApply(in, 0)
+  def doApply(in: Bits, n: Int = 0): UFix = {
     if (n >= in.getWidth-1)
       UFix(n)
     else
-      Mux(in(n), UFix(n), PriorityEncoder(in, n+1))
+      Mux(in(n), UFix(n), doApply(in, n+1))
   }
 }