diff --git a/backend/avision.c b/backend/avision.c
index 03fa6a116..63aa91b5f 100644
--- a/backend/avision.c
+++ b/backend/avision.c
@@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ static Avision_HWEntry Avision_Device_List [] =
     { "HP",      "C9930A",
       0x03f0, 0x0b01,
       "Hewlett-Packard", "ScanJet 8200",
-      0, AV_ADF_FLIPPING_DUPLEX },
+      0, AV_ADF_FLIPPING_DUPLEX | AV_FIRMWARE },
     /* comment="1 pass, 4800 (?) dpi - USB 2.0" */
     /* status="good" */
 
@@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ static Avision_HWEntry Avision_Device_List [] =
     { "HP",      "C9930A",
       0x03f0, 0x0b01,
       "Hewlett-Packard", "ScanJet 8250",
-      0, AV_ADF_FLIPPING_DUPLEX },
+      0, AV_ADF_FLIPPING_DUPLEX | AV_FIRMWARE },
     /* comment="1 pass, 4800 (?) dpi - USB 2.0" */
     /* status="good" */
 #endif
@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ static Avision_HWEntry Avision_Device_List [] =
     { "HP", "C9930A",
       0x03f0, 0x3905,
       "Hewlett-Packard", "ScanJet 8270",
-      0, AV_ADF_FLIPPING_DUPLEX },
+      0, AV_ADF_FLIPPING_DUPLEX | AV_FIRMWARE },
     /* comment="1 pass, 4800 (?) dpi - USB 2.0" */
     /* status="good" */
 
@@ -673,7 +673,7 @@ static Avision_HWEntry Avision_Device_List [] =
     { "HP", "C9930A",
       0x03f0, 0x0b01,
       "Hewlett-Packard", "ScanJet 8290",
-      0, AV_ADF_FLIPPING_DUPLEX },
+      0, AV_ADF_FLIPPING_DUPLEX | AV_FIRMWARE },
     /* comment="1 pass, 4800 (?) dpi - USB 2.0 and SCSI - only SCSI tested so far" */
     /* status="good" */
     
@@ -3679,9 +3679,8 @@ attach (SANE_String_Const devname, Avision_ConnectionType con_type,
   }
   
   /* second: maybe ask for the firmware status and flash ram info */
-  /* if (Avision_Device_List [model_num].feature_type & AV_FIRMWARE) */
-  if (0)
-    {
+  if (Avision_Device_List [model_num].feature_type2 & AV_FIRMWARE)
+  {
       DBG (3, "attach: reading firmware status\n");
       status = get_firmware_status (&av_con);
       if (status != SANE_STATUS_GOOD) {
@@ -3704,7 +3703,7 @@ attach (SANE_String_Const devname, Avision_ConnectionType con_type,
       if (status != SANE_STATUS_GOOD)
 	goto close_scanner_and_return;
 #endif
-    }
+  }
   
   /* third: get the extended Avision inquiry */
   status = inquiry (av_con, result, AVISION_INQUIRY_SIZE_V1);
diff --git a/backend/avision.h b/backend/avision.h
index 1e76e17dc..d46dd21ee 100644
--- a/backend/avision.h
+++ b/backend/avision.h
@@ -205,7 +205,10 @@ typedef struct Avision_HWEntry {
     AV_USE_GRAY_FILTER = (1<<1),
 
     /* For (HP) scanners with flipping duplexers */
-    AV_ADF_FLIPPING_DUPLEX = (1<<2)
+    AV_ADF_FLIPPING_DUPLEX = (1<<2),
+
+    /* For scanners which need to have their firmware read to properly function. */
+    AV_FIRMWARE = (1<<3)
   } feature_type2;
 
 } Avision_HWEntry;