diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/evergreen.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/evergreen.c
index 5e00d1670aa9..92c9628c572d 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/evergreen.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/evergreen.c
@@ -3276,6 +3276,18 @@ int evergreen_init(struct radeon_device *rdev)
 			rdev->accel_working = false;
 		}
 	}
+
+	/* Don't start up if the MC ucode is missing on BTC parts.
+	 * The default clocks and voltages before the MC ucode
+	 * is loaded are not suffient for advanced operations.
+	 */
+	if (ASIC_IS_DCE5(rdev)) {
+		if (!rdev->mc_fw && !(rdev->flags & RADEON_IS_IGP)) {
+			DRM_ERROR("radeon: MC ucode required for NI+.\n");
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
+	}
+
 	return 0;
 }