diff --git a/src/rhd_lvtma.c b/src/rhd_lvtma.c
index df53cfb..43f2ee2 100644
--- a/src/rhd_lvtma.c
+++ b/src/rhd_lvtma.c
@@ -589,8 +589,12 @@ LVDSInfoRetrieve(RHDPtr rhdPtr)
     tmp = RHDRegRead(rhdPtr, LVTMA_PWRSEQ_REF_DIV);
     Private->PowerRefDiv = tmp & 0x0FFF;
     Private->BlonRefDiv = (tmp >> 16) & 0x0FFF;
-    Private->BlLevel = (RHDRegRead(rhdPtr, LVTMA_BL_MOD_CNTL) >> 8) & 0xff;
-
+    tmp = RHDRegRead(rhdPtr, LVTMA_BL_MOD_CNTL);
+    if (tmp & 0x1)
+	Private->BlLevel = (tmp >> 8) & 0xff;
+    else
+	Private->BlLevel = 190; /* if BL control was disabled start with 75 percent */
+    
     Private->DualLink = (RHDRegRead(rhdPtr, LVTMA_CNTL) >> 24) & 0x00000001;
     Private->LVDS24Bit = RHDRegRead(rhdPtr, LVTMA_LVDS_DATA_CNTL) & 0x00000001;
     Private->FPDI = RHDRegRead(rhdPtr, LVTMA_LVDS_DATA_CNTL) & 0x00000010;