diff --git a/package/base-files/Makefile b/package/base-files/Makefile
index 0055474166..ed34480948 100644
--- a/package/base-files/Makefile
+++ b/package/base-files/Makefile
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/version.mk
 include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/feeds.mk
 
 PKG_NAME:=base-files
-PKG_RELEASE:=183
+PKG_RELEASE:=184
 PKG_FLAGS:=nonshared
 
 PKG_FILE_DEPENDS:=$(PLATFORM_DIR)/ $(GENERIC_PLATFORM_DIR)/base-files/
diff --git a/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/gpio_switch b/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/gpio_switch
index 32c142f110..6b2dcdce41 100755
--- a/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/gpio_switch
+++ b/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/gpio_switch
@@ -23,8 +23,15 @@ load_gpio_switch()
 		# we need to wait a bit until the GPIO appears
 		[ -d "$gpio_path" ] || sleep 1
 	}
-	# set the pin to output with high or low pin value
-	{ [ "$value" = "0" ] && echo "low" || echo "high"; } >"$gpio_path/direction"
+
+	# direction attribute only exists if the kernel supports changing the
+	# direction of a GPIO
+	if [ -e "${gpio_path}/direction" ]; then
+		# set the pin to output with high or low pin value
+		{ [ "$value" = "0" ] && echo "low" || echo "high"; } >"$gpio_path/direction"
+	else
+		{ [ "$value" = "0" ] && echo "0" || echo "1"; } >"$gpio_path/value"
+	fi
 }
 
 service_triggers()