((level < 0) || (level > 7)))
                        return -EINVAL;
 
+               /* safety net should the EC not support AUTO
+                * or FULLSPEED mode bits and just ignore them */
+               if (level & TP_EC_FAN_FULLSPEED)
+                       level |= 7;     /* safety min speed 7 */
+               else if (level & TP_EC_FAN_FULLSPEED)
+                       level |= 4;     /* safety min speed 4 */
+
                if (!acpi_ec_write(fan_status_offset, level))
                        return -EIO;
                else
                        break;
 
                /* Don't go out of emergency fan mode */
-               if (s != 7)
-                       s = TP_EC_FAN_AUTO;
+               if (s != 7) {
+                       s &= 0x07;
+                       s |= TP_EC_FAN_AUTO | 4; /* min fan speed 4 */
+               }
 
                if (!acpi_ec_write(fan_status_offset, s))
                        rc = -EIO;
                s &= 0x07;
 
                /* Set fan to at least level 4 */
-               if (s < 4)
-                       s = 4;
+               s |= 4;
 
                if (!acpi_evalf(sfan_handle, NULL, NULL, "vd", s))
                        rc= -EIO;