diff --git a/src/i830_lvds.c b/src/i830_lvds.c
index 0942d1cb..a3a56f7b 100644
--- a/src/i830_lvds.c
+++ b/src/i830_lvds.c
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ i830_lvds_get_backlight_kernel(xf86OutputPtr output)
 
     sprintf(path, "%s/%s/actual_brightness", BACKLIGHT_CLASS,
 	    backlight_interfaces[backlight_index]);
-    fd = open(path, O_RDWR);
+    fd = open(path, O_RDONLY);
     if (fd == -1) {
 	xf86DrvMsg(pScrn->scrnIndex, X_ERROR, "failed to open %s for backlight "
 		   "control: %s\n", path, strerror(errno));
@@ -1015,6 +1015,8 @@ i830_lvds_init(ScrnInfoPtr pScrn)
 	break;
     }
 
+    dev_priv->backlight_duty_cycle = dev_priv->backlight_max;
+
     return;
 
 disable_exit: