diff --git a/drivers/mmc/host/sdhci-of-at91.c b/drivers/mmc/host/sdhci-of-at91.c
index 881f8138e7de..03698d78a402 100644
--- a/drivers/mmc/host/sdhci-of-at91.c
+++ b/drivers/mmc/host/sdhci-of-at91.c
@@ -109,8 +109,13 @@ static void sdhci_at91_set_power(struct sdhci_host *host, unsigned char mode,
 static void sdhci_at91_set_uhs_signaling(struct sdhci_host *host,
 					 unsigned int timing)
 {
-	if (timing == MMC_TIMING_MMC_DDR52)
-		sdhci_writeb(host, SDMMC_MC1R_DDR, SDMMC_MC1R);
+	u8 mc1r;
+
+	if (timing == MMC_TIMING_MMC_DDR52) {
+		mc1r = sdhci_readb(host, SDMMC_MC1R);
+		mc1r |= SDMMC_MC1R_DDR;
+		sdhci_writeb(host, mc1r, SDMMC_MC1R);
+	}
 	sdhci_set_uhs_signaling(host, timing);
 }