diff --git a/drivers/acpi/ibm_acpi.c b/drivers/acpi/ibm_acpi.c
index 4cc534e36e81..7c1b418676b9 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/ibm_acpi.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/ibm_acpi.c
@@ -1711,6 +1711,12 @@ static struct backlight_ops ibm_backlight_data = {
 
 static int brightness_init(void)
 {
+	int b;
+
+	b = brightness_get(NULL);
+	if (b < 0)
+		return b;
+
 	ibm_backlight_device = backlight_device_register("ibm", NULL, NULL,
 							 &ibm_backlight_data);
 	if (IS_ERR(ibm_backlight_device)) {
@@ -1718,7 +1724,9 @@ static int brightness_init(void)
 		return PTR_ERR(ibm_backlight_device);
 	}
 
-        ibm_backlight_device->props.max_brightness = 7;
+	ibm_backlight_device->props.max_brightness = 7;
+	ibm_backlight_device->props.brightness = b;
+	backlight_update_status(ibm_backlight_device);
 
 	return 0;
 }