--- a/drivers/net/wireless/rt2x00/rt2800pci.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/rt2x00/rt2800pci.c
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ static void rt2800pci_mcu_status(struct 
 	rt2x00pci_register_write(rt2x00dev, H2M_MAILBOX_CID, ~0);
 }
 
-static void rt2800pci_read_eeprom_soc(struct rt2x00_dev *rt2x00dev)
+static void rt2800pci_read_eeprom_file(struct rt2x00_dev *rt2x00dev)
 {
 	memcpy(rt2x00dev->eeprom, rt2x00dev->eeprom_file->data, EEPROM_SIZE);
 }
@@ -938,8 +938,9 @@ static int rt2800pci_validate_eeprom(str
 	/*
 	 * Read EEPROM into buffer
 	 */
-	if (rt2x00_is_soc(rt2x00dev))
-		rt2800pci_read_eeprom_soc(rt2x00dev);
+	if (rt2x00_is_soc(rt2x00dev) ||
+			test_bit(REQUIRE_EEPROM_FILE, &rt2x00dev->cap_flags))
+		rt2800pci_read_eeprom_file(rt2x00dev);
 	else if (rt2800pci_efuse_detect(rt2x00dev))
 		rt2800pci_read_eeprom_efuse(rt2x00dev);
 	else
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/rt2x00/rt2x00pci.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/rt2x00/rt2x00pci.c
@@ -255,6 +255,7 @@ exit:
 int rt2x00pci_probe(struct pci_dev *pci_dev, const struct rt2x00_ops *ops)
 {
 	struct ieee80211_hw *hw;
+	struct rt2x00_platform_data *pdata;
 	struct rt2x00_dev *rt2x00dev;
 	int retval;
 
@@ -299,6 +300,12 @@ int rt2x00pci_probe(struct pci_dev *pci_
 	rt2x00dev->irq = pci_dev->irq;
 	rt2x00dev->name = pci_name(pci_dev);
 
+	/* if we get passed the name of a eeprom_file_name, then use this in
+	   favour of the eeprom */
+	pdata = rt2x00dev->dev->platform_data;
+	if (pdata && pdata->eeprom_file_name)
+		set_bit(REQUIRE_EEPROM_FILE, &rt2x00dev->cap_flags);
+
 	if (pci_is_pcie(pci_dev))
 		rt2x00_set_chip_intf(rt2x00dev, RT2X00_CHIP_INTF_PCIE);
 	else
