diff --git a/drivers/mtd/nand/nand_base.c b/drivers/mtd/nand/nand_base.c
index 8f4a681fd10e..6ed5392f3798 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/nand/nand_base.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/nand/nand_base.c
@@ -3813,10 +3813,13 @@ static void nand_manufacturer_detect(struct nand_chip *chip)
 	 * nand_decode_ext_id() otherwise.
 	 */
 	if (chip->manufacturer.desc && chip->manufacturer.desc->ops &&
-	    chip->manufacturer.desc->ops->detect)
+	    chip->manufacturer.desc->ops->detect) {
+		/* The 3rd id byte holds MLC / multichip data */
+		chip->bits_per_cell = nand_get_bits_per_cell(chip->id.data[2]);
 		chip->manufacturer.desc->ops->detect(chip);
-	else
+	} else {
 		nand_decode_ext_id(chip);
+	}
 }
 
 /*