diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_sdvo.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_sdvo.c
index f7b9268df26..e334ec33a47 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_sdvo.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/intel_sdvo.c
@@ -1066,15 +1066,13 @@ static void intel_sdvo_mode_set(struct drm_encoder *encoder,
 
 	/* Set the SDVO control regs. */
 	if (INTEL_INFO(dev)->gen >= 4) {
-		sdvox = 0;
+		/* The real mode polarity is set by the SDVO commands, using
+		 * struct intel_sdvo_dtd. */
+		sdvox = SDVO_VSYNC_ACTIVE_HIGH | SDVO_HSYNC_ACTIVE_HIGH;
 		if (intel_sdvo->is_hdmi)
 			sdvox |= intel_sdvo->color_range;
 		if (INTEL_INFO(dev)->gen < 5)
 			sdvox |= SDVO_BORDER_ENABLE;
-		if (adjusted_mode->flags & DRM_MODE_FLAG_PVSYNC)
-			sdvox |= SDVO_VSYNC_ACTIVE_HIGH;
-		if (adjusted_mode->flags & DRM_MODE_FLAG_PHSYNC)
-			sdvox |= SDVO_HSYNC_ACTIVE_HIGH;
 	} else {
 		sdvox = I915_READ(intel_sdvo->sdvo_reg);
 		switch (intel_sdvo->sdvo_reg) {