diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_panel.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_panel.c
index 5e6c888b4928..38a98570d10c 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_panel.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_panel.c
@@ -798,9 +798,6 @@ static void i965_enable_backlight(struct intel_connector *connector)
 	ctl = freq << 16;
 	I915_WRITE(BLC_PWM_CTL, ctl);
 
-	/* XXX: combine this into above write? */
-	intel_panel_actually_set_backlight(connector, panel->backlight.level);
-
 	ctl2 = BLM_PIPE(pipe);
 	if (panel->backlight.combination_mode)
 		ctl2 |= BLM_COMBINATION_MODE;
@@ -809,6 +806,8 @@ static void i965_enable_backlight(struct intel_connector *connector)
 	I915_WRITE(BLC_PWM_CTL2, ctl2);
 	POSTING_READ(BLC_PWM_CTL2);
 	I915_WRITE(BLC_PWM_CTL2, ctl2 | BLM_PWM_ENABLE);
+
+	intel_panel_actually_set_backlight(connector, panel->backlight.level);
 }
 
 static void vlv_enable_backlight(struct intel_connector *connector)