diff --git a/drivers/mfd/sm501.c b/drivers/mfd/sm501.c
index 170f9d47c2f9..0e5761f12634 100644
--- a/drivers/mfd/sm501.c
+++ b/drivers/mfd/sm501.c
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ struct sm501_gpio_chip {
 	struct gpio_chip	gpio;
 	struct sm501_gpio	*ourgpio;	/* to get back to parent. */
 	void __iomem		*regbase;
+	void __iomem		*control;	/* address of control reg. */
 };
 
 struct sm501_gpio {
@@ -908,6 +909,25 @@ static int sm501_gpio_get(struct gpio_chip *chip, unsigned offset)
 	return result & 1UL;
 }
 
+static void sm501_gpio_ensure_gpio(struct sm501_gpio_chip *smchip,
+				   unsigned long bit)
+{
+	unsigned long ctrl;
+
+	/* check and modify if this pin is not set as gpio. */
+
+	if (readl(smchip->control) & bit) {
+		dev_info(sm501_gpio_to_dev(smchip->ourgpio)->dev,
+			 "changing mode of gpio, bit %08lx\n", bit);
+
+		ctrl = readl(smchip->control);
+		ctrl &= ~bit;
+		writel(ctrl, smchip->control);
+
+		sm501_sync_regs(sm501_gpio_to_dev(smchip->ourgpio));
+	}
+}
+
 static void sm501_gpio_set(struct gpio_chip *chip, unsigned offset, int value)
 
 {
@@ -929,6 +949,8 @@ static void sm501_gpio_set(struct gpio_chip *chip, unsigned offset, int value)
 	writel(val, regs);
 
 	sm501_sync_regs(sm501_gpio_to_dev(smgpio));
+	sm501_gpio_ensure_gpio(smchip, bit);
+
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&smgpio->lock, save);
 }
 
@@ -941,8 +963,8 @@ static int sm501_gpio_input(struct gpio_chip *chip, unsigned offset)
 	unsigned long save;
 	unsigned long ddr;
 
-	dev_info(sm501_gpio_to_dev(smgpio)->dev, "%s(%p,%d)\n",
-		 __func__, chip, offset);
+	dev_dbg(sm501_gpio_to_dev(smgpio)->dev, "%s(%p,%d)\n",
+		__func__, chip, offset);
 
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&smgpio->lock, save);
 
@@ -950,6 +972,8 @@ static int sm501_gpio_input(struct gpio_chip *chip, unsigned offset)
 	writel(ddr & ~bit, regs + SM501_GPIO_DDR_LOW);
 
 	sm501_sync_regs(sm501_gpio_to_dev(smgpio));
+	sm501_gpio_ensure_gpio(smchip, bit);
+
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&smgpio->lock, save);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1012,9 +1036,11 @@ static int __devinit sm501_gpio_register_chip(struct sm501_devdata *sm,
 		if (base > 0)
 			base += 32;
 		chip->regbase = gpio->regs + SM501_GPIO_DATA_HIGH;
+		chip->control = sm->regs + SM501_GPIO63_32_CONTROL;
 		gchip->label  = "SM501-HIGH";
 	} else {
 		chip->regbase = gpio->regs + SM501_GPIO_DATA_LOW;
+		chip->control = sm->regs + SM501_GPIO31_0_CONTROL;
 		gchip->label  = "SM501-LOW";
 	}