diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/atmel_serial.c b/drivers/tty/serial/atmel_serial.c
index 6b0f75eac8a2..c7d99af46a96 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/atmel_serial.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/atmel_serial.c
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ static void atmel_stop_rx(struct uart_port *port);
 #define UART_PUT_RTOR(port,v)	__raw_writel(v, (port)->membase + ATMEL_US_RTOR)
 #define UART_PUT_TTGR(port, v)	__raw_writel(v, (port)->membase + ATMEL_US_TTGR)
 #define UART_GET_IP_NAME(port)	__raw_readl((port)->membase + ATMEL_US_NAME)
+#define UART_GET_IP_VERSION(port) __raw_readl((port)->membase + ATMEL_US_VERSION)
 
  /* PDC registers */
 #define UART_PUT_PTCR(port,v)	__raw_writel(v, (port)->membase + ATMEL_PDC_PTCR)
@@ -1503,6 +1504,7 @@ static void atmel_get_ip_name(struct uart_port *port)
 {
 	struct atmel_uart_port *atmel_port = to_atmel_uart_port(port);
 	int name = UART_GET_IP_NAME(port);
+	u32 version;
 	int usart, uart;
 	/* usart and uart ascii */
 	usart = 0x55534152;
@@ -1517,7 +1519,22 @@ static void atmel_get_ip_name(struct uart_port *port)
 		dev_dbg(port->dev, "This is uart\n");
 		atmel_port->is_usart = false;
 	} else {
-		dev_err(port->dev, "Not supported ip name, set to uart\n");
+		/* fallback for older SoCs: use version field */
+		version = UART_GET_IP_VERSION(port);
+		switch (version) {
+		case 0x302:
+		case 0x10213:
+			dev_dbg(port->dev, "This version is usart\n");
+			atmel_port->is_usart = true;
+			break;
+		case 0x203:
+		case 0x10202:
+			dev_dbg(port->dev, "This version is uart\n");
+			atmel_port->is_usart = false;
+			break;
+		default:
+			dev_err(port->dev, "Not supported ip name nor version, set to uart\n");
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/include/linux/atmel_serial.h b/include/linux/atmel_serial.h
index be201ca2990c..00beddf6be20 100644
--- a/include/linux/atmel_serial.h
+++ b/include/linux/atmel_serial.h
@@ -125,5 +125,6 @@
 #define ATMEL_US_IF		0x4c			/* IrDA Filter Register */
 
 #define ATMEL_US_NAME		0xf0			/* Ip Name */
+#define ATMEL_US_VERSION	0xfc			/* Ip Version */
 
 #endif