diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_hdmi.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_hdmi.c
index 4ac3a764a8b3..2e093f975ff6 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_hdmi.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/vc4/vc4_hdmi.c
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@
 #include <linux/component.h>
 #include <linux/gpio/consumer.h>
 #include <linux/i2c.h>
+#include <linux/module.h>
+#include <linux/moduleparam.h>
 #include <linux/of.h>
 #include <linux/of_address.h>
 #include <linux/pm_runtime.h>
@@ -113,6 +115,10 @@
 
 #define HDMI_14_MAX_TMDS_CLK   (340 * 1000 * 1000)
 
+/* bit field to force hotplug detection. bit0 = HDMI0 */
+static int force_hotplug;
+module_param(force_hotplug, int, 0644);
+
 static bool vc4_hdmi_supports_scrambling(struct vc4_hdmi *vc4_hdmi)
 {
 	struct drm_display_info *display = &vc4_hdmi->connector.display_info;
@@ -423,7 +429,9 @@ static int vc4_hdmi_connector_detect_ctx(struct drm_connector *connector,
 		return connector_status_unknown;
 	}
 
-	if (vc4_hdmi->hpd_gpio) {
+	if (force_hotplug & BIT(vc4_hdmi->encoder.type - VC4_ENCODER_TYPE_HDMI0))
+		status = connector_status_connected;
+	else if (vc4_hdmi->hpd_gpio) {
 		if (gpiod_get_value_cansleep(vc4_hdmi->hpd_gpio))
 			status = connector_status_connected;
 	} else {