diff --git a/drivers/mmc/core/host.c b/drivers/mmc/core/host.c
index 793d0a0dad8d..ca2e4f50f615 100644
--- a/drivers/mmc/core/host.c
+++ b/drivers/mmc/core/host.c
@@ -301,6 +301,17 @@ struct mmc_host *mmc_alloc_host(int extra, struct device *dev)
 	host->max_blk_size = 512;
 	host->max_blk_count = PAGE_CACHE_SIZE / 512;
 
+	/*
+	 * Enable runtime power management by default. This flag was added due
+	 * to runtime power management causing disruption for some users, but
+	 * the power on/off code has been improved since then.
+	 *
+	 * We'll enable this flag by default as an experiment, and if no
+	 * problems are reported, we will follow up later and remove the flag
+	 * altogether.
+	 */
+	host->caps = MMC_CAP_POWER_OFF_CARD;
+
 	return host;
 
 free: