diff --git a/drivers/edac/i5100_edac.c b/drivers/edac/i5100_edac.c
index a8767a6c1481..509eec860c37 100644
--- a/drivers/edac/i5100_edac.c
+++ b/drivers/edac/i5100_edac.c
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 /* register addresses and bit field accessors... */
 
 /* device 16, func 1 */
+#define I5100_MC		0x40	/* Memory Control Register */
+#define		I5100_MC_ERRDETEN(a)	((a) >> 5 & 1)
 #define I5100_MS		0x44	/* Memory Status Register */
 #define I5100_SPDDATA		0x48	/* Serial Presence Detect Status Reg */
 #define		I5100_SPDDATA_RDO(a)	((a) >> 15 & 1)
@@ -688,6 +690,14 @@ static int __devinit i5100_init_one(struct pci_dev *pdev,
 		goto bail;
 	}
 
+	/* ECC enabled? */
+	pci_read_config_dword(pdev, I5100_MC, &dw);
+	if (!I5100_MC_ERRDETEN(dw)) {
+		printk(KERN_INFO "i5100_edac: ECC not enabled.\n");
+		ret = -ENODEV;
+		goto bail;
+	}
+
 	/* figure out how many ranks, from strapped state of 48GB_Mode input */
 	pci_read_config_dword(pdev, I5100_MS, &dw);
 	ranksperch = !!(dw & (1 << 8)) * 2 + 4;