diff --git a/drivers/input/misc/rotary_encoder.c b/drivers/input/misc/rotary_encoder.c
index 3b9f588..4ae0793 100644
--- a/drivers/input/misc/rotary_encoder.c
+++ b/drivers/input/misc/rotary_encoder.c
@@ -152,6 +152,13 @@
 		goto exit_unregister_input;
 	}
 
+	err = gpio_direction_input(pdata->gpio_a);
+	if (err) {
+		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "unable to set GPIO %d for input\n",
+			pdata->gpio_a);
+		goto exit_unregister_input;
+	}
+
 	err = gpio_request(pdata->gpio_b, DRV_NAME);
 	if (err) {
 		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "unable to request GPIO %d\n",
@@ -159,6 +166,13 @@
 		goto exit_free_gpio_a;
 	}
 
+	err = gpio_direction_input(pdata->gpio_b);
+	if (err) {
+		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "unable to set GPIO %d for input\n",
+			pdata->gpio_b);
+		goto exit_free_gpio_a;
+	}
+
 	/* request the IRQs */
 	err = request_irq(encoder->irq_a, &rotary_encoder_irq,
 			  IORESOURCE_IRQ_HIGHEDGE | IORESOURCE_IRQ_LOWEDGE,