diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_encoders.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_encoders.c
index 9a19e52cc655..6b670b0bc47b 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_encoders.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon_encoders.c
@@ -179,6 +179,9 @@ static void radeon_encoder_add_backlight(struct radeon_encoder *radeon_encoder,
 		    (rdev->pdev->subsystem_vendor == 0x1734) &&
 		    (rdev->pdev->subsystem_device == 0x1107))
 			use_bl = false;
+		/* disable native backlight control on older asics */
+		else if (rdev->family < CHIP_R600)
+			use_bl = false;
 		else
 			use_bl = true;
 	}