diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_drv.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_drv.h
index a47fbf60b781..374f964323ad 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_drv.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_drv.h
@@ -656,6 +656,7 @@ enum intel_sbi_destination {
 #define QUIRK_PIPEA_FORCE (1<<0)
 #define QUIRK_LVDS_SSC_DISABLE (1<<1)
 #define QUIRK_INVERT_BRIGHTNESS (1<<2)
+#define QUIRK_BACKLIGHT_PRESENT (1<<3)
 
 struct intel_fbdev;
 struct intel_fbc_work;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_display.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_display.c
index 556c916dbf9d..949c765037ed 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_display.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_display.c
@@ -11591,6 +11591,14 @@ static void quirk_invert_brightness(struct drm_device *dev)
 	DRM_INFO("applying inverted panel brightness quirk\n");
 }
 
+/* Some VBT's incorrectly indicate no backlight is present */
+static void quirk_backlight_present(struct drm_device *dev)
+{
+	struct drm_i915_private *dev_priv = dev->dev_private;
+	dev_priv->quirks |= QUIRK_BACKLIGHT_PRESENT;
+	DRM_INFO("applying backlight present quirk\n");
+}
+
 struct intel_quirk {
 	int device;
 	int subsystem_vendor;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_panel.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_panel.c
index 38a98570d10c..628cd8938274 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_panel.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_panel.c
@@ -1118,8 +1118,12 @@ int intel_panel_setup_backlight(struct drm_connector *connector)
 	int ret;
 
 	if (!dev_priv->vbt.backlight.present) {
-		DRM_DEBUG_KMS("native backlight control not available per VBT\n");
-		return 0;
+		if (dev_priv->quirks & QUIRK_BACKLIGHT_PRESENT) {
+			DRM_DEBUG_KMS("no backlight present per VBT, but present per quirk\n");
+		} else {
+			DRM_DEBUG_KMS("no backlight present per VBT\n");
+			return 0;
+		}
 	}
 
 	/* set level and max in panel struct */