diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_reg.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_reg.h
index 6d3fead3a358..47bb110a5e36 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_reg.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915_reg.h
@@ -3491,6 +3491,7 @@ enum skl_disp_power_wells {
 #define   BLM_POLARITY_PNV			(1 << 0) /* pnv only */
 
 #define BLC_HIST_CTL	(dev_priv->info.display_mmio_offset + 0x61260)
+#define  BLM_HISTOGRAM_ENABLE			(1 << 31)
 
 /* New registers for PCH-split platforms. Safe where new bits show up, the
  * register layout machtes with gen4 BLC_PWM_CTL[12]. */
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_panel.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_panel.c
index 7d83527f95f7..55aad2322e10 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_panel.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_panel.c
@@ -907,6 +907,14 @@ static void i9xx_enable_backlight(struct intel_connector *connector)
 
 	/* XXX: combine this into above write? */
 	intel_panel_actually_set_backlight(connector, panel->backlight.level);
+
+	/*
+	 * Needed to enable backlight on some 855gm models. BLC_HIST_CTL is
+	 * 855gm only, but checking for gen2 is safe, as 855gm is the only gen2
+	 * that has backlight.
+	 */
+	if (IS_GEN2(dev))
+		I915_WRITE(BLC_HIST_CTL, BLM_HISTOGRAM_ENABLE);
 }
 
 static void i965_enable_backlight(struct intel_connector *connector)