diff --git a/drivers/ata/libata-core.c b/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
index 7115953..62c4b32 100644
--- a/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
+++ b/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
@@ -2354,6 +2354,18 @@
 }
 
 /**
+ *	ata_cable_ignore	-	return ignored PATA cable.
+ *	@ap: port
+ *
+ *	Helper method for drivers which don't use cable type to limit
+ *	transfer mode.
+ */
+int ata_cable_ignore(struct ata_port *ap)
+{
+	return ATA_CBL_PATA_IGN;
+}
+
+/**
  *	ata_cable_sata	-	return SATA cable type
  *	@ap: port
  *
@@ -7665,4 +7677,5 @@
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(ata_cable_40wire);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(ata_cable_80wire);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(ata_cable_unknown);
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(ata_cable_ignore);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(ata_cable_sata);
diff --git a/include/linux/ata.h b/include/linux/ata.h
index 43fecf6..c17e940 100644
--- a/include/linux/ata.h
+++ b/include/linux/ata.h
@@ -286,9 +286,10 @@
 	ATA_CBL_NONE		= 0,
 	ATA_CBL_PATA40		= 1,
 	ATA_CBL_PATA80		= 2,
-	ATA_CBL_PATA40_SHORT	= 3,		/* 40 wire cable to high UDMA spec */
-	ATA_CBL_PATA_UNK	= 4,
-	ATA_CBL_SATA		= 5,
+	ATA_CBL_PATA40_SHORT	= 3,	/* 40 wire cable to high UDMA spec */
+	ATA_CBL_PATA_UNK	= 4,	/* don't know, maybe 80c? */
+	ATA_CBL_PATA_IGN	= 5,	/* don't know, ignore cable handling */
+	ATA_CBL_SATA		= 6,
 
 	/* SATA Status and Control Registers */
 	SCR_STATUS		= 0,
diff --git a/include/linux/libata.h b/include/linux/libata.h
index d9eb20c..bdb7c6e 100644
--- a/include/linux/libata.h
+++ b/include/linux/libata.h
@@ -927,6 +927,7 @@
 extern int ata_cable_40wire(struct ata_port *ap);
 extern int ata_cable_80wire(struct ata_port *ap);
 extern int ata_cable_sata(struct ata_port *ap);
+extern int ata_cable_ignore(struct ata_port *ap);
 extern int ata_cable_unknown(struct ata_port *ap);
 
 /*