diff --git a/board/freescale/mx53ard/mx53ard.c b/board/freescale/mx53ard/mx53ard.c
index 40b5c19..e90e39e 100644
--- a/board/freescale/mx53ard/mx53ard.c
+++ b/board/freescale/mx53ard/mx53ard.c
@@ -89,7 +89,9 @@
 	int ret;
 
 	mxc_request_iomux(MX53_PIN_GPIO_1, IOMUX_CONFIG_ALT1);
+	gpio_direction_input(1);
 	mxc_request_iomux(MX53_PIN_GPIO_4, IOMUX_CONFIG_ALT1);
+	gpio_direction_input(4);
 
 	if (cfg->esdhc_base == MMC_SDHC1_BASE_ADDR)
 		ret = !gpio_get_value(1); /* GPIO1_1 */