diff --git a/drivers/mmc/core/Kconfig b/drivers/mmc/core/Kconfig
index 250f223aaa80..c4ec6c852a8e 100644
--- a/drivers/mmc/core/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/mmc/core/Kconfig
@@ -22,3 +22,11 @@ config PWRSEQ_SIMPLE
 
 	  This driver can also be built as a module. If so, the module
 	  will be called pwrseq_simple.
+
+config MMC_PARANOID_SD_INIT
+	bool "Enable paranoid SD card initialization (EXPERIMENTAL)"
+	help
+	  If you say Y here, the MMC layer will be extra paranoid
+	  about re-trying SD init requests. This can be a useful
+	  work-around for buggy controllers and hardware. Enable
+	  if you are experiencing issues with SD detection.
diff --git a/drivers/mmc/core/sd.c b/drivers/mmc/core/sd.c
index 73c762a28dfe..07f97999d1c0 100644
--- a/drivers/mmc/core/sd.c
+++ b/drivers/mmc/core/sd.c
@@ -839,6 +839,9 @@ int mmc_sd_setup_card(struct mmc_host *host, struct mmc_card *card,
 	bool reinit)
 {
 	int err;
+#ifdef CONFIG_MMC_PARANOID_SD_INIT
+	int retries;
+#endif
 
 	if (!reinit) {
 		/*
@@ -865,7 +868,26 @@ int mmc_sd_setup_card(struct mmc_host *host, struct mmc_card *card,
 		/*
 		 * Fetch switch information from card.
 		 */
+#ifdef CONFIG_MMC_PARANOID_SD_INIT
+		for (retries = 1; retries <= 3; retries++) {
+			err = mmc_read_switch(card);
+			if (!err) {
+				if (retries > 1) {
+					printk(KERN_WARNING
+					       "%s: recovered\n",
+					       mmc_hostname(host));
+				}
+				break;
+			} else {
+				printk(KERN_WARNING
+				       "%s: read switch failed (attempt %d)\n",
+				       mmc_hostname(host), retries);
+			}
+		}
+#else
 		err = mmc_read_switch(card);
+#endif
+
 		if (err)
 			return err;
 	}