diff --git a/sound/pci/via82xx.c b/sound/pci/via82xx.c
index 1ef58c5..949fcaf 100644
--- a/sound/pci/via82xx.c
+++ b/sound/pci/via82xx.c
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@
 static int ac97_clock = 48000;
 static char *ac97_quirk;
 static int dxs_support;
+static int nodelay;
 
 module_param(index, int, 0444);
 MODULE_PARM_DESC(index, "Index value for VIA 82xx bridge.");
@@ -102,6 +103,8 @@
 MODULE_PARM_DESC(ac97_quirk, "AC'97 workaround for strange hardware.");
 module_param(dxs_support, int, 0444);
 MODULE_PARM_DESC(dxs_support, "Support for DXS channels (0 = auto, 1 = enable, 2 = disable, 3 = 48k only, 4 = no VRA, 5 = enable any sample rate)");
+module_param(nodelay, int, 0444);
+MODULE_PARM_DESC(nodelay, "Disable 500ms init delay");
 
 /* just for backward compatibility */
 static int enable;
@@ -549,7 +552,8 @@
 	int err;
 	err = snd_via82xx_codec_ready(chip, ac97->num);
 	/* here we need to wait fairly for long time.. */
-	msleep(500);
+	if (!nodelay)
+		msleep(500);
 }
 
 static void snd_via82xx_codec_write(struct snd_ac97 *ac97,