diff --git a/drivers/gpio/pca953x.c b/drivers/gpio/pca953x.c
index 8dc0164bd51e..2dae94fbabf4 100644
--- a/drivers/gpio/pca953x.c
+++ b/drivers/gpio/pca953x.c
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ struct pca953x_chip {
 
 	struct i2c_client *client;
 	struct gpio_chip gpio_chip;
+	char **names;
 };
 
 static int pca953x_write_reg(struct pca953x_chip *chip, int reg, uint16_t val)
@@ -192,6 +193,7 @@ static void pca953x_setup_gpio(struct pca953x_chip *chip, int gpios)
 	gc->label = chip->client->name;
 	gc->dev = &chip->client->dev;
 	gc->owner = THIS_MODULE;
+	gc->names = chip->names;
 }
 
 static int __devinit pca953x_probe(struct i2c_client *client,
@@ -215,6 +217,8 @@ static int __devinit pca953x_probe(struct i2c_client *client,
 
 	chip->gpio_start = pdata->gpio_base;
 
+	chip->names = pdata->names;
+
 	/* initialize cached registers from their original values.
 	 * we can't share this chip with another i2c master.
 	 */
diff --git a/include/linux/i2c/pca953x.h b/include/linux/i2c/pca953x.h
index 3c7361217df8..81736d6a8db7 100644
--- a/include/linux/i2c/pca953x.h
+++ b/include/linux/i2c/pca953x.h
@@ -15,4 +15,5 @@ struct pca953x_platform_data {
 	int		(*teardown)(struct i2c_client *client,
 				unsigned gpio, unsigned ngpio,
 				void *context);
+	char		**names;
 };