diff --git a/usr.sbin/pccard/pccardd/cardd.c b/usr.sbin/pccard/pccardd/cardd.c
index 9b31a7711c03..10e3b2cc3014 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/pccard/pccardd/cardd.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/pccard/pccardd/cardd.c
@@ -825,6 +825,7 @@ setup_slot(struct slot *sp)
 	offs = sp->cis->reg_addr;
 	rw_flags = MDF_ATTR;
 	ioctl(sp->fd, PIOCRWFLAG, &rw_flags);
+#if RESET_MAY_BE_HARMFUL
 	lseek(sp->fd, offs, SEEK_SET);
 	c = 0x80;
 	write(sp->fd, &c, sizeof(c));
@@ -833,6 +834,7 @@ setup_slot(struct slot *sp)
 	c = 0x00;
 	write(sp->fd, &c, sizeof(c));
 	usleep(sp->card->reset_time * 1000);
+#endif
 	lseek(sp->fd, offs, SEEK_SET);
 	c = sp->config->index;
 	c |= 0x40;