diff --git a/drivers/platform/x86/dell/dell-uart-backlight.c b/drivers/platform/x86/dell/dell-uart-backlight.c
index 81acc90e8328..e4f5bced851a 100644
--- a/drivers/platform/x86/dell/dell-uart-backlight.c
+++ b/drivers/platform/x86/dell/dell-uart-backlight.c
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ static int dell_uart_get_scalar_status(struct dell_uart_backlight *dell_pdata)
 	struct dell_uart_bl_cmd *bl_cmd = &uart_cmd[DELL_UART_GET_SCALAR];
 	struct uart_8250_port *uart = serial8250_get_port(dell_pdata->line);
 	int rx_len;
-	int status = 0;
+	int status = 0, retry = 20;
 
 	dell_uart_dump_cmd(__func__, "tx: ", bl_cmd->cmd, bl_cmd->tx_len);
 
@@ -328,7 +328,11 @@ static int dell_uart_get_scalar_status(struct dell_uart_backlight *dell_pdata)
 	}
 
 	dell_uart_write(uart, bl_cmd->cmd, bl_cmd->tx_len);
-	rx_len = dell_uart_read(uart, bl_cmd->ret, bl_cmd->rx_len);
+	do {
+		rx_len = dell_uart_read(uart, bl_cmd->ret, bl_cmd->rx_len);
+		if (rx_len == 0)
+			msleep(100);
+	} while (rx_len == 0 && --retry);
 
 	mutex_unlock(&dell_pdata->brightness_mutex);