diff --git a/arch/mips/include/asm/mach-au1x00/au1100_mmc.h b/arch/mips/include/asm/mach-au1x00/au1100_mmc.h
index 58fbe173ecde..94000a3b6f0b 100644
--- a/arch/mips/include/asm/mach-au1x00/au1100_mmc.h
+++ b/arch/mips/include/asm/mach-au1x00/au1100_mmc.h
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ struct au1xmmc_platform_data {
 	int(*card_readonly)(void *mmc_host);
 	void(*set_power)(void *mmc_host, int state);
 	struct led_classdev *led;
+	unsigned long mask_host_caps;
 };
 
 #define SD0_BASE	0xB0600000
diff --git a/drivers/mmc/host/au1xmmc.c b/drivers/mmc/host/au1xmmc.c
index c8649dfb2d0c..57b21198828f 100644
--- a/drivers/mmc/host/au1xmmc.c
+++ b/drivers/mmc/host/au1xmmc.c
@@ -1017,6 +1017,10 @@ static int __devinit au1xmmc_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	} else
 		mmc->caps |= MMC_CAP_NEEDS_POLL;
 
+	/* platform may not be able to use all advertised caps */
+	if (host->platdata)
+		mmc->caps &= ~(host->platdata->mask_host_caps);
+
 	tasklet_init(&host->data_task, au1xmmc_tasklet_data,
 			(unsigned long)host);