diff --git a/drivers/platform/x86/surface3_power.c b/drivers/platform/x86/surface3_power.c
index cc4f9cba68563..01aacf1bee074 100644
--- a/drivers/platform/x86/surface3_power.c
+++ b/drivers/platform/x86/surface3_power.c
@@ -233,14 +233,21 @@ static int mshw0011_bix(struct mshw0011_data *cdata, struct bix *bix)
 	}
 	bix->last_full_charg_capacity = ret;
 
-	/* get serial number */
+	/*
+	 * Get serial number, on some devices (with unofficial replacement
+	 * battery?) reading any of the serial number range addresses gets
+	 * nacked in this case just leave the serial number empty.
+	 */
 	ret = i2c_smbus_read_i2c_block_data(client, MSHW0011_BAT0_REG_SERIAL_NO,
 					    sizeof(buf), buf);
-	if (ret != sizeof(buf)) {
+	if (ret == -EREMOTEIO) {
+		/* no serial number available */
+	} else if (ret != sizeof(buf)) {
 		dev_err(&client->dev, "Error reading serial no: %d\n", ret);
 		return ret;
+	} else {
+		snprintf(bix->serial, ARRAY_SIZE(bix->serial), "%3pE%6pE", buf + 7, buf);
 	}
-	snprintf(bix->serial, ARRAY_SIZE(bix->serial), "%3pE%6pE", buf + 7, buf);
 
 	/* get cycle count */
 	ret = i2c_smbus_read_word_data(client, MSHW0011_BAT0_REG_CYCLE_CNT);