diff --git a/drivers/media/dvb/frontends/au8522_decoder.c b/drivers/media/dvb/frontends/au8522_decoder.c
index 24268ef..ef5fd49 100644
--- a/drivers/media/dvb/frontends/au8522_decoder.c
+++ b/drivers/media/dvb/frontends/au8522_decoder.c
@@ -664,6 +664,8 @@
 {
 	struct au8522_state *state = to_state(sd);
 
+	state->operational_mode = AU8522_ANALOG_MODE;
+
 	au8522_writereg(state, 0xa4, 1 << 5);
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/drivers/media/dvb/frontends/au8522_dig.c b/drivers/media/dvb/frontends/au8522_dig.c
index a1fed0f..e2efb25 100644
--- a/drivers/media/dvb/frontends/au8522_dig.c
+++ b/drivers/media/dvb/frontends/au8522_dig.c
@@ -84,6 +84,14 @@
 
 	dprintk("%s(%d)\n", __func__, enable);
 
+	if (state->operational_mode == AU8522_ANALOG_MODE) {
+		/* We're being asked to manage the gate even though we're
+		   not in digital mode.  This can occur if we get switched
+		   over to analog mode before the dvb_frontend kernel thread
+		   has completely shutdown */
+		return 0;
+	}
+
 	if (enable)
 		return au8522_writereg(state, 0x106, 1);
 	else
@@ -608,6 +616,8 @@
 	struct au8522_state *state = fe->demodulator_priv;
 	dprintk("%s()\n", __func__);
 
+	state->operational_mode = AU8522_DIGITAL_MODE;
+
 	au8522_writereg(state, 0xa4, 1 << 5);
 
 	au8522_i2c_gate_ctrl(fe, 1);
@@ -704,6 +714,15 @@
 	struct au8522_state *state = fe->demodulator_priv;
 	dprintk("%s()\n", __func__);
 
+	/* Only power down if the digital side is currently using the chip */
+	if (state->operational_mode == AU8522_ANALOG_MODE) {
+		/* We're not in one of the expected power modes, which means
+		   that the DVB thread is probably telling us to go to sleep
+		   even though the analog frontend has already started using
+		   the chip.  So ignore the request */
+		return 0;
+	}
+
 	/* turn off led */
 	au8522_led_ctrl(state, 0);
 
@@ -932,6 +951,8 @@
 	/* setup the state */
 	state->config = config;
 	state->i2c = i2c;
+	state->operational_mode = AU8522_DIGITAL_MODE;
+
 	/* create dvb_frontend */
 	memcpy(&state->frontend.ops, &au8522_ops,
 	       sizeof(struct dvb_frontend_ops));
diff --git a/drivers/media/dvb/frontends/au8522_priv.h b/drivers/media/dvb/frontends/au8522_priv.h
index c74c4e7..609cf04 100644
--- a/drivers/media/dvb/frontends/au8522_priv.h
+++ b/drivers/media/dvb/frontends/au8522_priv.h
@@ -34,10 +34,15 @@
 #include "au8522.h"
 #include "tuner-i2c.h"
 
+#define AU8522_ANALOG_MODE 0
+#define AU8522_DIGITAL_MODE 1
+
 struct au8522_state {
 	struct i2c_client *c;
 	struct i2c_adapter *i2c;
 
+	u8 operational_mode;
+
 	/* Used for sharing of the state between analog and digital mode */
 	struct tuner_i2c_props i2c_props;
 	struct list_head hybrid_tuner_instance_list;