diff --git a/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/xway_nand.c b/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/xway_nand.c
index efc5bf5434e0..26751976e502 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/xway_nand.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/xway_nand.c
@@ -149,7 +149,9 @@ static void xway_write_buf(struct nand_chip *chip, const u_char *buf, int len)
 static int xway_attach_chip(struct nand_chip *chip)
 {
 	chip->ecc.engine_type = NAND_ECC_ENGINE_TYPE_SOFT;
-	chip->ecc.algo = NAND_ECC_ALGO_HAMMING;
+
+	if (chip->ecc.algo == NAND_ECC_ALGO_UNKNOWN)
+		chip->ecc.algo = NAND_ECC_ALGO_HAMMING;
 
 	return 0;
 }