diff --git a/drivers/leds/led-class.c b/drivers/leds/led-class.c
index ba1be15cfd8e..24fcff682b24 100644
--- a/drivers/leds/led-class.c
+++ b/drivers/leds/led-class.c
@@ -552,6 +552,12 @@ int led_classdev_register_ext(struct device *parent,
 	led_init_core(led_cdev);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_LEDS_TRIGGERS
+	/*
+	 * If no default trigger was given and hw_control_trigger is set,
+	 * make it the default trigger.
+	 */
+	if (!led_cdev->default_trigger && led_cdev->hw_control_trigger)
+		led_cdev->default_trigger = led_cdev->hw_control_trigger;
 	led_trigger_set_default(led_cdev);
 #endif