diff --git a/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/orion_nand.c b/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/orion_nand.c
index e3bb65fd3ab2..66211c9311d2 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/orion_nand.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/orion_nand.c
@@ -86,7 +86,9 @@ static void orion_nand_read_buf(struct nand_chip *chip, uint8_t *buf, int len)
 static int orion_nand_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;
 }