diff --git a/src/hal/hal.h b/src/hal/hal.h
index 4f85421db10..2da0d2ced6b 100644
--- a/src/hal/hal.h
+++ b/src/hal/hal.h
@@ -1067,7 +1067,10 @@ static inline rtapi_s64 hal_extend_counter(rtapi_s64 old, rtapi_s64 newlow, int
     */
 
     /* tripwire if somebody tries to use this code on a Cray with wrong
-       compiler flags */
+       compiler flags. */
+
+    /* prevent cppcheck to complain about the tripwire */
+    /* cppcheck-suppress shiftNegativeLHS */
     HAL_STATIC_ASSERT((-2 >> 1) == -1, 
         "hal_extend_counter impl only works with arithmetic right shift");