diff --git a/drivers/pwm/core.c b/drivers/pwm/core.c
index c4d5c0667137..6d3a1c84b053 100644
--- a/drivers/pwm/core.c
+++ b/drivers/pwm/core.c
@@ -126,8 +126,7 @@ of_pwm_xlate_with_flags(struct pwm_chip *pc, const struct of_phandle_args *args)
 {
 	struct pwm_device *pwm;
 
-	/* check, whether the driver supports a third cell for flags */
-	if (pc->of_pwm_n_cells < 3)
+	if (pc->of_pwm_n_cells < 2)
 		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 
 	/* flags in the third cell are optional */
@@ -144,8 +143,10 @@ of_pwm_xlate_with_flags(struct pwm_chip *pc, const struct of_phandle_args *args)
 	pwm->args.period = args->args[1];
 	pwm->args.polarity = PWM_POLARITY_NORMAL;
 
-	if (args->args_count > 2 && args->args[2] & PWM_POLARITY_INVERTED)
-		pwm->args.polarity = PWM_POLARITY_INVERSED;
+	if (pc->of_pwm_n_cells >= 3) {
+		if (args->args_count > 2 && args->args[2] & PWM_POLARITY_INVERTED)
+			pwm->args.polarity = PWM_POLARITY_INVERSED;
+	}
 
 	return pwm;
 }