diff --git a/drivers/char/tpm/tpm_tis.c b/drivers/char/tpm/tpm_tis.c
index ae91c115c438..6c69ad72f82f 100644
--- a/drivers/char/tpm/tpm_tis.c
+++ b/drivers/char/tpm/tpm_tis.c
@@ -98,6 +98,22 @@ static inline int is_itpm(struct pnp_dev *dev)
 }
 #endif
 
+/* Before we attempt to access the TPM we must see that the valid bit is set.
+ * The specification says that this bit is 0 at reset and remains 0 until the
+ * 'TPM has gone through its self test and initialization and has established
+ * correct values in the other bits.' */
+static int wait_startup(struct tpm_chip *chip, int l)
+{
+	unsigned long stop = jiffies + chip->vendor.timeout_a;
+	do {
+		if (ioread8(chip->vendor.iobase + TPM_ACCESS(l)) &
+		    TPM_ACCESS_VALID)
+			return 0;
+		msleep(TPM_TIMEOUT);
+	} while (time_before(jiffies, stop));
+	return -1;
+}
+
 static int check_locality(struct tpm_chip *chip, int l)
 {
 	if ((ioread8(chip->vendor.iobase + TPM_ACCESS(l)) &
@@ -541,6 +557,11 @@ static int tpm_tis_init(struct device *dev, resource_size_t start,
 	chip->vendor.timeout_c = msecs_to_jiffies(TIS_SHORT_TIMEOUT);
 	chip->vendor.timeout_d = msecs_to_jiffies(TIS_SHORT_TIMEOUT);
 
+	if (wait_startup(chip, 0) != 0) {
+		rc = -ENODEV;
+		goto out_err;
+	}
+
 	if (request_locality(chip, 0) != 0) {
 		rc = -ENODEV;
 		goto out_err;