diff --git a/drivers/leds/rgb/leds-group-multicolor.c b/drivers/leds/rgb/leds-group-multicolor.c
index 39f58be32af5..2cf9c3f2c65d 100644
--- a/drivers/leds/rgb/leds-group-multicolor.c
+++ b/drivers/leds/rgb/leds-group-multicolor.c
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ static int leds_gmc_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	struct leds_multicolor *priv;
 	unsigned int max_brightness = 0;
 	int i, ret, count = 0;
+	bool allow_subled_writes = false;
 
 	priv = devm_kzalloc(dev, sizeof(*priv), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!priv)
@@ -121,28 +122,39 @@ static int leds_gmc_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	priv->mc_cdev.num_colors = count;
 
 	init_data.fwnode = dev_fwnode(dev);
+	allow_subled_writes = fwnode_property_present(init_data.fwnode, "mc-allow-subled-writes");
 	ret = devm_led_classdev_multicolor_register_ext(dev, &priv->mc_cdev, &init_data);
 	if (ret)
 		return dev_err_probe(dev, ret, "failed to register multicolor LED for %s.\n",
 				     cdev->name);
 
-	ret = leds_gmc_set(cdev, cdev->brightness);
-	if (ret)
-		return dev_err_probe(dev, ret, "failed to set LED value for %s.", cdev->name);
+	/* Honor DT default-state using LED core helper */
+	{
+		int def = led_init_default_state_get(dev_fwnode(dev));
+
+		if (def != LEDS_DEFSTATE_KEEP) {
+			ret = leds_gmc_set(cdev, cdev->brightness);
+			if (ret)
+				return dev_err_probe(dev, ret, "failed to set LED value for %s.", cdev->name);
+		}
+	}
 
 	for (i = 0; i < count; i++) {
 		struct led_classdev *led_cdev = priv->monochromatics[i];
 
-		/*
-		 * Make the individual LED sysfs interface read-only to prevent the user
-		 * to change the brightness of the individual LEDs of the group.
-		 */
-		mutex_lock(&led_cdev->led_access);
-		led_sysfs_disable(led_cdev);
-		mutex_unlock(&led_cdev->led_access);
+		/* Optionally keep sub-LED sysfs writable for legacy userspace */
+		if (!allow_subled_writes) {
+			/*
+			 * Make the individual LED sysfs interface read-only to prevent the user
+			 * to change the brightness of the individual LEDs of the group.
+			 */
+			mutex_lock(&led_cdev->led_access);
+			led_sysfs_disable(led_cdev);
+			mutex_unlock(&led_cdev->led_access);
 
-		/* Restore the write access to the LED sysfs when the group is destroyed */
-		devm_add_action_or_reset(dev, restore_sysfs_write_access, led_cdev);
+			/* Restore the write access to the LED sysfs when the group is destroyed */
+			devm_add_action_or_reset(dev, restore_sysfs_write_access, led_cdev);
+		}
 	}
 
 	return 0;