diff --git a/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/au1550nd.c b/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/au1550nd.c
index 99116896cfd6c6..5aa3a06d740c79 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/au1550nd.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/au1550nd.c
@@ -239,9 +239,8 @@ static int au1550nd_exec_op(struct nand_chip *this,
 
 static int au1550nd_attach_chip(struct nand_chip *chip)
 {
-	chip->ecc.engine_type = NAND_ECC_ENGINE_TYPE_SOFT;
-
-	if (chip->ecc.algo == NAND_ECC_ALGO_UNKNOWN)
+	if (chip->ecc.engine_type == NAND_ECC_ENGINE_TYPE_SOFT &&
+	    chip->ecc.algo == NAND_ECC_ALGO_UNKNOWN)
 		chip->ecc.algo = NAND_ECC_ALGO_HAMMING;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -310,6 +309,13 @@ static int au1550nd_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (pd->devwidth)
 		this->options |= NAND_BUSWIDTH_16;
 
+	/*
+	 * This driver assumes that the default ECC engine should be TYPE_SOFT.
+	 * Set ->engine_type before registering the NAND devices in order to
+	 * provide a driver specific default value.
+	 */
+	this->ecc.engine_type = NAND_ECC_ENGINE_TYPE_SOFT;
+
 	ret = nand_scan(this, 1);
 	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "NAND scan failed with %d\n", ret);