diff --git a/drivers/usb/host/ehci-hcd.c b/drivers/usb/host/ehci-hcd.c
index 54715b875759..2dc15f3ad143 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/host/ehci-hcd.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/host/ehci-hcd.c
@@ -127,6 +127,8 @@ timer_action(struct ehci_hcd *ehci, enum ehci_timer_action action)
 
 		switch (action) {
 		case TIMER_IO_WATCHDOG:
+			if (!ehci->need_io_watchdog)
+				return;
 			t = EHCI_IO_JIFFIES;
 			break;
 		case TIMER_ASYNC_OFF:
@@ -508,6 +510,10 @@ static int ehci_init(struct usb_hcd *hcd)
 
 	spin_lock_init(&ehci->lock);
 
+	/*
+	 * keep io watchdog by default, those good HCDs could turn off it later
+	 */
+	ehci->need_io_watchdog = 1;
 	init_timer(&ehci->watchdog);
 	ehci->watchdog.function = ehci_watchdog;
 	ehci->watchdog.data = (unsigned long) ehci;
diff --git a/drivers/usb/host/ehci-pci.c b/drivers/usb/host/ehci-pci.c
index b5b83c43898a..a88ad517ec5c 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/host/ehci-pci.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/host/ehci-pci.c
@@ -129,6 +129,9 @@ static int ehci_pci_setup(struct usb_hcd *hcd)
 		return retval;
 
 	switch (pdev->vendor) {
+	case PCI_VENDOR_ID_INTEL:
+		ehci->need_io_watchdog = 0;
+		break;
 	case PCI_VENDOR_ID_TDI:
 		if (pdev->device == PCI_DEVICE_ID_TDI_EHCI) {
 			hcd->has_tt = 1;
diff --git a/drivers/usb/host/ehci.h b/drivers/usb/host/ehci.h
index 48b9e889a18b..acec10894078 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/host/ehci.h
+++ b/drivers/usb/host/ehci.h
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ struct ehci_hcd {			/* one per controller */
 	unsigned		big_endian_mmio:1;
 	unsigned		big_endian_desc:1;
 	unsigned		has_amcc_usb23:1;
+	unsigned		need_io_watchdog:1;
 
 	/* required for usb32 quirk */
 	#define OHCI_CTRL_HCFS          (3 << 6)