diff --git a/drivers/mtd/devices/m25p80.c b/drivers/mtd/devices/m25p80.c
index 85e35467fba6..7c8b1694a134 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/devices/m25p80.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/devices/m25p80.c
@@ -223,6 +223,8 @@ static int m25p_probe(struct spi_device *spi)
 	 */
 	if (data && data->type)
 		flash_name = data->type;
+	else if (!strcmp(spi->modalias, "nor-jedec"))
+		flash_name = NULL; /* auto-detect */
 	else
 		flash_name = spi->modalias;
 
@@ -247,9 +249,16 @@ static int m25p_remove(struct spi_device *spi)
 }
 
 /*
- * XXX This needs to be kept in sync with spi_nor_ids.  We can't share
- * it with spi-nor, because if this is built as a module then modpost
- * won't be able to read it and add appropriate aliases.
+ * Do NOT add to this array without reading the following:
+ *
+ * Historically, many flash devices are bound to this driver by their name. But
+ * since most of these flash are compatible to some extent, and their
+ * differences can often be differentiated by the JEDEC read-ID command, we
+ * encourage new users to add support to the spi-nor library, and simply bind
+ * against a generic string here (e.g., "nor-jedec").
+ *
+ * Many flash names are kept here in this list (as well as in spi-nor.c) to
+ * keep them available as module aliases for existing platforms.
  */
 static const struct spi_device_id m25p_ids[] = {
 	{"at25fs010"},	{"at25fs040"},	{"at25df041a"},	{"at25df321a"},
@@ -291,6 +300,12 @@ static const struct spi_device_id m25p_ids[] = {
 	{"w25x64"},	{"w25q64"},	{"w25q80"},	{"w25q80bl"},
 	{"w25q128"},	{"w25q256"},	{"cat25c11"},
 	{"cat25c03"},	{"cat25c09"},	{"cat25c17"},	{"cat25128"},
+
+	/*
+	 * Generic support for SPI NOR that can be identified by the JEDEC READ
+	 * ID opcode (0x9F). Use this, if possible.
+	 */
+	{"nor-jedec"},
 	{ },
 };
 MODULE_DEVICE_TABLE(spi, m25p_ids);