diff --git a/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_codec.c b/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_codec.c
index 33dba10f03e8..600e053dfd35 100644
--- a/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_codec.c
+++ b/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_codec.c
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ static const ac97_codec_id_t snd_ac97_codec_ids[] = {
 { 0x54524123, 0xffffffff, "TR28602",		NULL,		NULL }, // only guess --jk [TR28023 = eMicro EM28023 (new CT1297)]
 { 0x54584e20, 0xffffffff, "TLC320AD9xC",	NULL,		NULL },
 { 0x56494161, 0xffffffff, "VIA1612A",		NULL,		NULL }, // modified ICE1232 with S/PDIF
+{ 0x56494170, 0xffffffff, "VIA1617A",		patch_vt1617a,	NULL }, // modified VT1616 with S/PDIF
 { 0x57454301, 0xffffffff, "W83971D",		NULL,		NULL },
 { 0x574d4c00, 0xffffffff, "WM9701A",		NULL,		NULL },
 { 0x574d4C03, 0xffffffff, "WM9703,WM9707,WM9708,WM9717", patch_wolfson03, NULL},
@@ -2580,8 +2581,6 @@ int snd_ac97_tune_hardware(ac97_t *ac97, struct ac97_quirk *quirk, const char *o
 {
 	int result;
 
-	snd_assert(quirk, return -EINVAL);
-
 	/* quirk overriden? */
 	if (override && strcmp(override, "-1") && strcmp(override, "default")) {
 		result = apply_quirk_str(ac97, override);
@@ -2590,6 +2589,9 @@ int snd_ac97_tune_hardware(ac97_t *ac97, struct ac97_quirk *quirk, const char *o
 		return result;
 	}
 
+	if (! quirk)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	for (; quirk->subvendor; quirk++) {
 		if (quirk->subvendor != ac97->subsystem_vendor)
 			continue;
diff --git a/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_patch.c b/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_patch.c
index b0b31f4015aa..a0d515536177 100644
--- a/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_patch.c
+++ b/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_patch.c
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ AC97_DOUBLE("Front Playback Volume", AC97_WM97XX_FMIXER_VOL, 8, 0, 31, 1),
 AC97_SINGLE("Front Playback Switch", AC97_WM97XX_FMIXER_VOL, 15, 1, 1),
 };
 
-static int patch_wolfson_wm9703_specific(ac97_t * ac97)
+int patch_wolfson_wm9703_specific(ac97_t * ac97)
 {
 	/* This is known to work for the ViewSonic ViewPad 1000
 	 * Randolph Bentson <bentson@holmsjoen.com>
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ AC97_DOUBLE("Rear DAC Volume", AC97_WM9704_RPCM_VOL, 8, 0, 31, 1),
 AC97_DOUBLE("Surround Volume", AC97_SURROUND_MASTER, 8, 0, 31, 1),
 };
 
-static int patch_wolfson_wm9704_specific(ac97_t * ac97)
+int patch_wolfson_wm9704_specific(ac97_t * ac97)
 {
 	int err, i;
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(wm9704_snd_ac97_controls); i++) {
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ int patch_wolfson04(ac97_t * ac97)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int patch_wolfson_wm9705_specific(ac97_t * ac97)
+int patch_wolfson_wm9705_specific(ac97_t * ac97)
 {
 	int err, i;
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(wm97xx_snd_ac97_controls); i++) {
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ AC97_SINGLE("Headphone ZC Switch", AC97_HEADPHONE, 7, 1, 0),
 AC97_SINGLE("Mono ZC Switch", AC97_MASTER_MONO, 7, 1, 0),
 };
 
-static int patch_wolfson_wm9711_specific(ac97_t * ac97)
+int patch_wolfson_wm9711_specific(ac97_t * ac97)
 {
 	int err, i;
 	
@@ -2665,6 +2665,16 @@ int patch_vt1616(ac97_t * ac97)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/*
+ * VT1617A codec
+ */
+int patch_vt1617a(ac97_t * ac97)
+{
+	ac97->ext_id |= AC97_EI_SPDIF;	/* force the detection of spdif */
+	ac97->rates[AC97_RATES_SPDIF] = SNDRV_PCM_RATE_44100 | SNDRV_PCM_RATE_48000;
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /*
  */
 static void it2646_update_jacks(ac97_t *ac97)
diff --git a/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_patch.h b/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_patch.h
index 7b7377d0f2ae..ec1811320106 100644
--- a/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_patch.h
+++ b/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_patch.h
@@ -56,5 +56,6 @@ int patch_cm9739(ac97_t * ac97);
 int patch_cm9761(ac97_t * ac97);
 int patch_cm9780(ac97_t * ac97);
 int patch_vt1616(ac97_t * ac97);
+int patch_vt1617a(ac97_t * ac97);
 int patch_it2646(ac97_t * ac97);
 int mpatch_si3036(ac97_t * ac97);