diff --git a/drivers/media/video/em28xx/em28xx-cards.c b/drivers/media/video/em28xx/em28xx-cards.c
index 494560e823110..1c2e544eda735 100644
--- a/drivers/media/video/em28xx/em28xx-cards.c
+++ b/drivers/media/video/em28xx/em28xx-cards.c
@@ -2382,7 +2382,9 @@ void em28xx_card_setup(struct em28xx *dev)
 	}
 
 	em28xx_tuner_setup(dev);
-	em28xx_ir_init(dev);
+
+	if(!disable_ir)
+		em28xx_ir_init(dev);
 }