if (dev_priv->backlight_level == 0)
                dev_priv->backlight_level = intel_panel_get_max_backlight(dev);
 
-       dev_priv->backlight_enabled = true;
-       intel_panel_actually_set_backlight(dev, dev_priv->backlight_level);
-
        if (INTEL_INFO(dev)->gen >= 4) {
                uint32_t reg, tmp;
 
                 * we don't track the backlight dpms state, hence check whether
                 * we have to do anything first. */
                if (tmp & BLM_PWM_ENABLE)
-                       return;
+                       goto set_level;
 
                if (dev_priv->num_pipe == 3)
                        tmp &= ~BLM_PIPE_SELECT_IVB;
                        I915_WRITE(BLC_PWM_PCH_CTL1, tmp);
                }
        }
+
+set_level:
+       /* Call below after setting BLC_PWM_CPU_CTL2 and BLC_PWM_PCH_CTL1.
+        * BLC_PWM_CPU_CTL may be cleared to zero automatically when these
+        * registers are set.
+        */
+       dev_priv->backlight_enabled = true;
+       intel_panel_actually_set_backlight(dev, dev_priv->backlight_level);
 }
 
 static void intel_panel_init_backlight(struct drm_device *dev)