diff --git a/drivers/pcmcia/cistpl.c b/drivers/pcmcia/cistpl.c
index 8b3b49217287faa17a1831d43f92a9cf85e76a1c..64d0515b76bd5ade5136b46a566f78d9c23ba831 100644
--- a/drivers/pcmcia/cistpl.c
+++ b/drivers/pcmcia/cistpl.c
@@ -1451,10 +1451,26 @@ int pccard_validate_cis(struct pcmcia_socket *s, unsigned int *info)
 done:
 	/* invalidate CIS cache on failure */
 	if (!dev_ok || !ident_ok || !count) {
-		mutex_lock(&s->ops_mutex);
-		destroy_cis_cache(s);
-		mutex_unlock(&s->ops_mutex);
-		ret = -EIO;
+#if defined(CONFIG_MTD_PCMCIA_ANONYMOUS)
+		/* Set up as an anonymous card. If we don't have anonymous
+		   memory support then just error the card as there is no
+		   point trying to second guess.
+
+		   Note: some cards have just a device entry, it may be
+		   worth extending support to cover these in future */
+		if (!dev_ok || !ident_ok) {
+			dev_info(&s->dev, "no CIS, assuming an anonymous memory card.\n");
+			pcmcia_replace_cis(s, "\xFF", 1);
+			count = 1;
+			ret = 0;
+		} else
+#endif
+		{
+			mutex_lock(&s->ops_mutex);
+			destroy_cis_cache(s);
+			mutex_unlock(&s->ops_mutex);
+			ret = -EIO;
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (info)