diff --git a/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/af9015.c b/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/af9015.c
index e48cb586f4cf..bbe1d3382195 100644
--- a/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/af9015.c
+++ b/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/af9015.c
@@ -1276,6 +1276,10 @@ static int af9015_get_rc_config(struct dvb_usb_device *d, struct dvb_usb_rc *rc)
 		}
 	}
 
+	/* load empty to enable rc */
+	if (!rc->map_name)
+		rc->map_name = RC_MAP_EMPTY;
+
 	rc->allowed_protos = RC_TYPE_NEC;
 	rc->query = af9015_rc_query;
 	rc->interval = 500;
diff --git a/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/af9035.c b/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/af9035.c
index 82b1ac716c2f..79197f46aa95 100644
--- a/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/af9035.c
+++ b/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/af9035.c
@@ -966,6 +966,10 @@ static int af9035_get_rc_config(struct dvb_usb_device *d, struct dvb_usb_rc *rc)
 
 		rc->query = af9035_rc_query;
 		rc->interval = 500;
+
+		/* load empty to enable rc */
+		if (!rc->map_name)
+			rc->map_name = RC_MAP_EMPTY;
 	}
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/dvb_usb.h b/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/dvb_usb.h
index 6fcab07ecada..773817b5fe06 100644
--- a/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/dvb_usb.h
+++ b/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/dvb_usb.h
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ struct dvb_usb_driver_info {
  * @bulk_mode: device supports bulk mode for rc (disable polling mode)
  */
 struct dvb_usb_rc {
-	char *map_name;
+	const char *map_name;
 	u64 allowed_protos;
 	int (*change_protocol)(struct rc_dev *dev, u64 rc_type);
 	int (*query) (struct dvb_usb_device *d);
diff --git a/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/dvb_usb_core.c b/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/dvb_usb_core.c
index aed7463167bc..3224621e1f32 100644
--- a/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/dvb_usb_core.c
+++ b/drivers/media/dvb/dvb-usb/dvb_usb_core.c
@@ -135,10 +135,15 @@ static int dvb_usbv2_remote_init(struct dvb_usb_device *d)
 	if (dvb_usbv2_disable_rc_polling || !d->props->get_rc_config)
 		return 0;
 
+	d->rc.map_name = d->rc_map;
 	ret = d->props->get_rc_config(d, &d->rc);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto err;
 
+	/* disable rc when there is no keymap defined */
+	if (!d->rc.map_name)
+		return 0;
+
 	dev = rc_allocate_device();
 	if (!dev) {
 		ret = -ENOMEM;
@@ -153,14 +158,11 @@ static int dvb_usbv2_remote_init(struct dvb_usb_device *d)
 	usb_to_input_id(d->udev, &dev->input_id);
 	/* TODO: likely RC-core should took const char * */
 	dev->driver_name = (char *) d->props->driver_name;
+	dev->map_name = d->rc.map_name;
 	dev->driver_type = d->rc.driver_type;
 	dev->allowed_protos = d->rc.allowed_protos;
 	dev->change_protocol = d->rc.change_protocol;
 	dev->priv = d;
-	if (d->rc.map_name)
-		dev->map_name = d->rc.map_name;
-	else
-		dev->map_name = d->rc_map;
 
 	ret = rc_register_device(dev);
 	if (ret < 0) {