diff --git a/src/i830_sdvo.c b/src/i830_sdvo.c
index cfba482..ee621d1 100644
--- a/src/i830_sdvo.c
+++ b/src/i830_sdvo.c
@@ -1721,6 +1721,28 @@ i830_sdvo_multifunc_encoder(xf86OutputPtr output)
     return (caps > 1);
 }
 
+static uint16_t i830_sdvo_multiple_detections(xf86OutputPtr output, int times, uint16_t *response)
+{
+    uint8_t status;
+    int i;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < times; i = i + 1) {
+        i830_sdvo_write_cmd(output, SDVO_CMD_GET_ATTACHED_DISPLAYS, NULL, 0);
+        status = i830_sdvo_read_response(output, response, 2);
+
+        if (status != SDVO_CMD_STATUS_SUCCESS)
+            return XF86OutputStatusUnknown;
+
+        if (*response != 0)
+            break;
+    }
+
+    if (*response != 0)
+        return XF86OutputStatusConnected;
+    else
+	return XF86OutputStatusDisconnected;
+}
+
 /**
  * Asks the SDVO device if any displays are currently connected.
  *
@@ -1730,6 +1752,7 @@ i830_sdvo_multifunc_encoder(xf86OutputPtr output)
  *
  * Takes 14ms on average on my i945G.
  */
+#define MAX_DETECT_ATTEMPT_NUM 5
 static xf86OutputStatus
 i830_sdvo_detect(xf86OutputPtr output)
 {
@@ -1738,14 +1761,10 @@ i830_sdvo_detect(xf86OutputPtr output)
     uint16_t response;
     uint8_t status;
 
-    i830_sdvo_write_cmd(output, SDVO_CMD_GET_ATTACHED_DISPLAYS, NULL, 0);
-    status = i830_sdvo_read_response(output, &response, 2);
+    status = i830_sdvo_multiple_detections(output, MAX_DETECT_ATTEMPT_NUM, &response);
 
-    if (status != SDVO_CMD_STATUS_SUCCESS)
-	return XF86OutputStatusUnknown;
-
-    if (response == 0)
-	return XF86OutputStatusDisconnected;
+    if (status != XF86OutputStatusConnected)
+        return status;
 
     if (i830_sdvo_multifunc_encoder(output)) {
 	if (dev_priv->attached_output != response) {