diff --git a/drivers/platform/x86/eeepc-laptop.c b/drivers/platform/x86/eeepc-laptop.c
index 9d93cb971e59a16df9ff014844d6a250983d6cd9..8fb983f5629e4d84ca1ee2d364093dcd8cfd77a3 100644
--- a/drivers/platform/x86/eeepc-laptop.c
+++ b/drivers/platform/x86/eeepc-laptop.c
@@ -510,7 +510,8 @@ static int eeepc_hotk_check(void)
 static void notify_brn(void)
 {
 	struct backlight_device *bd = eeepc_backlight_device;
-	bd->props.brightness = read_brightness(bd);
+	if (bd)
+		bd->props.brightness = read_brightness(bd);
 }
 
 static void eeepc_hotk_notify(acpi_handle handle, u32 event, void *data)