diff --git a/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/socrates_nand.c b/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/socrates_nand.c
index 70f8305c9b6e1..fb39cc7ebce03 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/socrates_nand.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/socrates_nand.c
@@ -119,9 +119,8 @@ static int socrates_nand_device_ready(struct nand_chip *nand_chip)
 
 static int socrates_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;
@@ -175,6 +174,13 @@ static int socrates_nand_probe(struct platform_device *ofdev)
 	/* TODO: I have no idea what real delay is. */
 	nand_chip->legacy.chip_delay = 20;	/* 20us command delay time */
 
+	/*
+	 * 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.
+	 */
+	nand_chip->ecc.engine_type = NAND_ECC_ENGINE_TYPE_SOFT;
+
 	dev_set_drvdata(&ofdev->dev, host);
 
 	res = nand_scan(nand_chip, 1);