struct snd_soc_codec_device *codec_dev = card->socdev->codec_dev;
        struct snd_soc_platform *platform;
        struct snd_soc_dai *dai;
-       int i, found, ret;
+       int i, found, ret, ac97;
 
        if (card->instantiated)
                return;
                return;
        }
 
+       ac97 = 0;
        for (i = 0; i < card->num_links; i++) {
                found = 0;
                list_for_each_entry(dai, &dai_list, list)
                                card->dai_link[i].cpu_dai->name);
                        return;
                }
+
+               if (card->dai_link[i].cpu_dai->ac97_control)
+                       ac97 = 1;
        }
 
+       /* If we have AC97 in the system then don't wait for the
+        * codec.  This will need revisiting if we have to handle
+        * systems with mixed AC97 and non-AC97 parts.  Only check for
+        * DAIs currently; we can't do this per link since some AC97
+        * codecs have non-AC97 DAIs.
+        */
+       if (!ac97)
+               for (i = 0; i < card->num_links; i++) {
+                       found = 0;
+                       list_for_each_entry(dai, &dai_list, list)
+                               if (card->dai_link[i].codec_dai == dai) {
+                                       found = 1;
+                                       break;
+                               }
+                       if (!found) {
+                               dev_dbg(card->dev, "DAI %s not registered\n",
+                                       card->dai_link[i].codec_dai->name);
+                               return;
+                       }
+               }
+
        /* Note that we do not current check for codec components */
 
        dev_dbg(card->dev, "All components present, instantiating\n");