diff --git a/drivers/leds/Kconfig b/drivers/leds/Kconfig
index 9b60b6b684d9..37e91184756d 100644
--- a/drivers/leds/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/leds/Kconfig
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ config LEDS_ALIX2
 	depends on LEDS_CLASS && X86 && EXPERIMENTAL
 	help
 	  This option enables support for the PCEngines ALIX.2 and ALIX.3 LEDs.
+	  You have to set leds-alix2.force=1 for boards with Award BIOS.
 
 config LEDS_H1940
 	tristate "LED Support for iPAQ H1940 device"
diff --git a/drivers/leds/leds-alix2.c b/drivers/leds/leds-alix2.c
index ddbd7730dfc8..731d4eef3425 100644
--- a/drivers/leds/leds-alix2.c
+++ b/drivers/leds/leds-alix2.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 static int force = 0;
 module_param(force, bool, 0444);
-MODULE_PARM_DESC(force, "Assume system has ALIX.2 style LEDs");
+MODULE_PARM_DESC(force, "Assume system has ALIX.2/ALIX.3 style LEDs");
 
 struct alix_led {
 	struct led_classdev cdev;
@@ -155,6 +155,11 @@ static int __init alix_led_init(void)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
+	/* enable output on GPIO for LED 1,2,3 */
+	outl(1 << 6, 0x6104);
+	outl(1 << 9, 0x6184);
+	outl(1 << 11, 0x6184);
+
 	pdev = platform_device_register_simple(KBUILD_MODNAME, -1, NULL, 0);
 	if (!IS_ERR(pdev)) {
 		ret = platform_driver_probe(&alix_led_driver, alix_led_probe);