diff --git a/frontend/device/android/powerd.lua b/frontend/device/android/powerd.lua
index 00f043844..34500f660 100644
--- a/frontend/device/android/powerd.lua
+++ b/frontend/device/android/powerd.lua
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ function AndroidPowerD:turnOnFrontlightHW()
     if self:isFrontlightOn() and self:isFrontlightOnHW() then
         return
     end
+    -- on devices with a software frontlight switch (e.g Tolinos), enable it
+    android.enableFrontlightSwitch()
+
     android.setScreenBrightness(math.floor(self.fl_intensity * self.bright_diff / self.fl_max))
 
     self.is_fl_on = true