diff --git a/drivers/led/led_gpio.c b/drivers/led/led_gpio.c
index 9976635887..56702a1417 100644
--- a/drivers/led/led_gpio.c
+++ b/drivers/led/led_gpio.c
@@ -60,11 +60,29 @@ static int led_gpio_probe(struct udevice *dev)
 {
 	struct led_uc_plat *uc_plat = dev_get_uclass_platdata(dev);
 	struct led_gpio_priv *priv = dev_get_priv(dev);
+	const char *state;
+	int ret;
 
 	/* Ignore the top-level LED node */
 	if (!uc_plat->label)
 		return 0;
-	return gpio_request_by_name(dev, "gpios", 0, &priv->gpio, GPIOD_IS_OUT);
+
+	ret = gpio_request_by_name(dev, "gpios", 0, &priv->gpio, GPIOD_IS_OUT);
+	if (ret) {
+		printf("Failed to request gpios of led '%s'\n", uc_plat->label);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
+	/* Apply default state */
+	state = dev_read_prop(dev, "default-state", NULL);
+	if (state) {
+		if (!strcmp(state, "on"))
+			ret = gpio_led_set_state(dev, LEDST_ON);
+		else if (!strcmp(state, "off"))
+			ret = gpio_led_set_state(dev, LEDST_OFF);
+	}
+
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static int led_gpio_remove(struct udevice *dev)