diff --git a/drivers/gpio/pca953x.c b/drivers/gpio/pca953x.c
index cc84686..9ceeb89 100644
--- a/drivers/gpio/pca953x.c
+++ b/drivers/gpio/pca953x.c
@@ -289,7 +289,10 @@
 {
 	return i2c_add_driver(&pca953x_driver);
 }
-module_init(pca953x_init);
+/* register after i2c postcore initcall and before
+ * subsys initcalls that may rely on these GPIOs
+ */
+subsys_initcall(pca953x_init);
 
 static void __exit pca953x_exit(void)
 {