diff --git a/drivers/regulator/core.c b/drivers/regulator/core.c
index 9a09f3cdbabb85cec71e7afece30308e4ccead7b..e3cb9b66731f7f42e5119035c121a770defd3b7d 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/core.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/core.c
@@ -3819,8 +3819,9 @@ static int __init regulator_init_complete(void)
 	mutex_lock(&regulator_list_mutex);
 
 	/* If we have a full configuration then disable any regulators
-	 * which are not in use or always_on.  This will become the
-	 * default behaviour in the future.
+	 * we have permission to change the status for and which are
+	 * not in use or always_on.  This is effectively the default
+	 * for DT and ACPI as they have full constraints.
 	 */
 	list_for_each_entry(rdev, &regulator_list, list) {
 		ops = rdev->desc->ops;
@@ -3829,6 +3830,9 @@ static int __init regulator_init_complete(void)
 		if (c && c->always_on)
 			continue;
 
+		if (c && !(c->valid_ops_mask & REGULATOR_CHANGE_STATUS))
+			continue;
+
 		mutex_lock(&rdev->mutex);
 
 		if (rdev->use_count)