diff --git a/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/gpio.c b/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/gpio.c
index eb03b8cea1cb..fb7a086de35e 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/gpio.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/gpio.c
@@ -164,7 +164,9 @@ static int gpio_nand_exec_op(struct nand_chip *chip,
 static int gpio_nand_attach_chip(struct nand_chip *chip)
 {
 	chip->ecc.engine_type = NAND_ECC_ENGINE_TYPE_SOFT;
-	chip->ecc.algo = NAND_ECC_ALGO_HAMMING;
+
+	if (chip->ecc.algo == NAND_ECC_ALGO_UNKNOWN)
+		chip->ecc.algo = NAND_ECC_ALGO_HAMMING;
 
 	return 0;
 }