diff --git a/drivers/usb/host/ehci-omap.c b/drivers/usb/host/ehci-omap.c
index 40a8583350353883719112b33c739a382d424a17..711332ebdab5b0408343d7960baf0b3e01f53b80 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/host/ehci-omap.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/host/ehci-omap.c
@@ -659,6 +659,9 @@ static int ehci_hcd_omap_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 		goto err_add_hcd;
 	}
 
+	/* root ports should always stay powered */
+	ehci_port_power(omap->ehci, 1);
+
 	return 0;
 
 err_add_hcd: