diff --git a/kernel/chips/w83627hf.c b/kernel/chips/w83627hf.c
index f002e939..34619906 100644
--- a/kernel/chips/w83627hf.c
+++ b/kernel/chips/w83627hf.c
@@ -916,7 +916,10 @@ static void w83627hf_init_client(struct i2c_client *client)
 		}
 		/* enable comparator mode for temp2 and temp3 so
 	           alarm indication will work correctly */
-		w83627hf_write_value(client, W83781D_REG_IRQ, 0x41);
+		i = w83627hf_read_value(client, W83781D_REG_IRQ);
+		if (!(i & 0x40))
+			w83627hf_write_value(client, W83781D_REG_IRQ,
+					    i | 0x40);
 	}
 
 	/* Start monitoring */
diff --git a/kernel/chips/w83781d.c b/kernel/chips/w83781d.c
index 7e98db0c..db9e69c3 100644
--- a/kernel/chips/w83781d.c
+++ b/kernel/chips/w83781d.c
@@ -1378,7 +1378,11 @@ static void w83781d_init_client(struct i2c_client *client)
 		if (type != w83781d) {
 			/* enable comparator mode for temp2 and temp3 so
 		           alarm indication will work correctly */
-			w83781d_write_value(client, W83781D_REG_IRQ, 0x41);
+			i = w83781d_read_value(client, W83781D_REG_IRQ);
+			if (!(i & 0x40))
+				w83781d_write_value(client, W83781D_REG_IRQ,
+						    i | 0x40);
+
 			for(i = 0; i < 3; i++)
 				data->pwmenable[i] = 1;
 		}