diff --git a/arch/mips/alchemy/devboards/db1200.c b/arch/mips/alchemy/devboards/db1200.c
index 1181241c5052..67219913f09f 100644
--- a/arch/mips/alchemy/devboards/db1200.c
+++ b/arch/mips/alchemy/devboards/db1200.c
@@ -66,19 +66,33 @@ static int __init detect_board(void)
 {
 	int bid;
 
-	/* try the PB1200 first */
+	/* try the DB1200 first */
+	bcsr_init(DB1200_BCSR_PHYS_ADDR,
+		  DB1200_BCSR_PHYS_ADDR + DB1200_BCSR_HEXLED_OFS);
+	if (BCSR_WHOAMI_DB1200 == BCSR_WHOAMI_BOARD(bcsr_read(BCSR_WHOAMI))) {
+		unsigned short t = bcsr_read(BCSR_HEXLEDS);
+		bcsr_write(BCSR_HEXLEDS, ~t);
+		if (bcsr_read(BCSR_HEXLEDS) != t) {
+			bcsr_write(BCSR_HEXLEDS, t);
+			return 0;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* okay, try the PB1200 then */
 	bcsr_init(PB1200_BCSR_PHYS_ADDR,
 		  PB1200_BCSR_PHYS_ADDR + PB1200_BCSR_HEXLED_OFS);
 	bid = BCSR_WHOAMI_BOARD(bcsr_read(BCSR_WHOAMI));
 	if ((bid == BCSR_WHOAMI_PB1200_DDR1) ||
-	    (bid == BCSR_WHOAMI_PB1200_DDR2))
-		return 0;
+	    (bid == BCSR_WHOAMI_PB1200_DDR2)) {
+		unsigned short t = bcsr_read(BCSR_HEXLEDS);
+		bcsr_write(BCSR_HEXLEDS, ~t);
+		if (bcsr_read(BCSR_HEXLEDS) != t) {
+			bcsr_write(BCSR_HEXLEDS, t);
+			return 0;
+		}
+	}
 
-	/* okay, try the DB1200 then */
-	bcsr_init(DB1200_BCSR_PHYS_ADDR,
-		  DB1200_BCSR_PHYS_ADDR + DB1200_BCSR_HEXLED_OFS);
-	bid = BCSR_WHOAMI_BOARD(bcsr_read(BCSR_WHOAMI));
-	return bid == BCSR_WHOAMI_DB1200 ? 0 : 1;
+	return 1;	/* it's neither */
 }
 
 void __init board_setup(void)