A method for preventing the degradation of a hydrophilic colloid solution for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material of which the viscosity has been or is to be increased using an anionic polymer containing an acid group, which comprises incorporating into the hydrophilic colloid solution at least one compound represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub. represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; and R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, which may be the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group.