diff --git a/drivers/media/common/tuners/xc5000.c b/drivers/media/common/tuners/xc5000.c
index efc4312..bc294b9 100644
--- a/drivers/media/common/tuners/xc5000.c
+++ b/drivers/media/common/tuners/xc5000.c
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@
 module_param(debug, int, 0644);
 MODULE_PARM_DESC(debug, "Turn on/off debugging (default:off).");
 
+static int no_poweroff;
+module_param(no_poweroff, int, 0644);
+MODULE_PARM_DESC(no_poweroff, "0 (default) powers device off when not used.\n"
+	"\t\t1 keep device energized and with tuner ready all the times.\n"
+	"\t\tFaster, but consumes more power and keeps the device hotter");
+
 static DEFINE_MUTEX(xc5000_list_mutex);
 static LIST_HEAD(hybrid_tuner_instance_list);
 
@@ -857,6 +863,10 @@
 
 	dprintk(1, "%s()\n", __func__);
 
+	/* Avoid firmware reload on slow devices */
+	if (no_poweroff)
+		return 0;
+
 	/* According to Xceive technical support, the "powerdown" register
 	   was removed in newer versions of the firmware.  The "supported"
 	   way to sleep the tuner is to pull the reset pin low for 10ms */