diff --git a/board/efikamx/efikamx.c b/board/efikamx/efikamx.c
index b78bf6c..451d709 100644
--- a/board/efikamx/efikamx.c
+++ b/board/efikamx/efikamx.c
@@ -309,17 +309,15 @@ static inline uint32_t efika_mmc_cd(void)
 		return MX51_PIN_EIM_CS2;
 }
 
-int board_mmc_getcd(u8 *absent, struct mmc *mmc)
+int board_mmc_getcd(struct mmc *mmc)
 {
 	struct fsl_esdhc_cfg *cfg = (struct fsl_esdhc_cfg *)mmc->priv;
 	uint32_t cd = efika_mmc_cd();
 
 	if (cfg->esdhc_base == MMC_SDHC1_BASE_ADDR)
-		*absent = gpio_get_value(IOMUX_TO_GPIO(cd));
-	else
-		*absent = gpio_get_value(IOMUX_TO_GPIO(MX51_PIN_GPIO1_8));
+		return !gpio_get_value(IOMUX_TO_GPIO(cd));
 
-	return 0;
+	return !gpio_get_value(IOMUX_TO_GPIO(MX51_PIN_GPIO1_8));
 }
 
 int board_mmc_init(bd_t *bis)
diff --git a/board/emk/top9000/top9000.c b/board/emk/top9000/top9000.c
index 61dee62..d156e32 100644
--- a/board/emk/top9000/top9000.c
+++ b/board/emk/top9000/top9000.c
@@ -108,17 +108,9 @@ int board_mmc_init(bd_t *bd)
 }
 
 /* this is a weak define that we are overriding */
-int board_mmc_getcd(u8 *cd, struct mmc *mmc)
+int board_mmc_getcd(struct mmc *mmc)
 {
-	/*
-	 * the only currently existing use of this function
-	 * (fsl_esdhc.c) suggests this function must return
-	 * *cs = TRUE if a card is NOT detected -> in most
-	 * cases the value of the pin when the detect switch
-	 * closes to GND
-	 */
-	*cd = at91_get_gpio_value(CONFIG_SYS_MMC_CD_PIN) ? 1 : 0;
-	return 0;
+	return !at91_get_gpio_value(CONFIG_SYS_MMC_CD_PIN);
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/board/freescale/mx51evk/mx51evk.c b/board/freescale/mx51evk/mx51evk.c
index 37e6e4d..bc03496 100644
--- a/board/freescale/mx51evk/mx51evk.c
+++ b/board/freescale/mx51evk/mx51evk.c
@@ -261,16 +261,14 @@ static void power_init(void)
 }
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_FSL_ESDHC
-int board_mmc_getcd(u8 *cd, struct mmc *mmc)
+int board_mmc_getcd(struct mmc *mmc)
 {
 	struct fsl_esdhc_cfg *cfg = (struct fsl_esdhc_cfg *)mmc->priv;
 
 	if (cfg->esdhc_base == MMC_SDHC1_BASE_ADDR)
-		*cd = gpio_get_value(0);
-	else
-		*cd = gpio_get_value(6);
+		return !gpio_get_value(0);
 
-	return 0;
+	return !gpio_get_value(6);
 }
 
 int board_mmc_init(bd_t *bis)
diff --git a/board/freescale/mx53ard/mx53ard.c b/board/freescale/mx53ard/mx53ard.c
index be32aee..786770a 100644
--- a/board/freescale/mx53ard/mx53ard.c
+++ b/board/freescale/mx53ard/mx53ard.c
@@ -83,16 +83,14 @@ struct fsl_esdhc_cfg esdhc_cfg[2] = {
 	{MMC_SDHC2_BASE_ADDR, 1 },
 };
 
-int board_mmc_getcd(u8 *cd, struct mmc *mmc)
+int board_mmc_getcd(struct mmc *mmc)
 {
 	struct fsl_esdhc_cfg *cfg = (struct fsl_esdhc_cfg *)mmc->priv;
 
 	if (cfg->esdhc_base == MMC_SDHC1_BASE_ADDR)
-		*cd = gpio_get_value(1); /*GPIO1_1*/
-	else
-		*cd = gpio_get_value(4); /*GPIO1_4*/
+		return !gpio_get_value(1); /*GPIO1_1*/
 
-	return 0;
+	return !gpio_get_value(4); /*GPIO1_4*/
 }
 
 int board_mmc_init(bd_t *bis)
diff --git a/board/freescale/mx53evk/mx53evk.c b/board/freescale/mx53evk/mx53evk.c
index 335661f..a4cd983 100644
--- a/board/freescale/mx53evk/mx53evk.c
+++ b/board/freescale/mx53evk/mx53evk.c
@@ -208,16 +208,14 @@ struct fsl_esdhc_cfg esdhc_cfg[2] = {
 	{MMC_SDHC3_BASE_ADDR, 1},
 };
 
-int board_mmc_getcd(u8 *cd, struct mmc *mmc)
+int board_mmc_getcd(struct mmc *mmc)
 {
 	struct fsl_esdhc_cfg *cfg = (struct fsl_esdhc_cfg *)mmc->priv;
 
 	if (cfg->esdhc_base == MMC_SDHC1_BASE_ADDR)
-		*cd = gpio_get_value(77); /*GPIO3_13*/
-	else
-		*cd = gpio_get_value(75); /*GPIO3_11*/
+		return !gpio_get_value(77); /*GPIO3_13*/
 
-	return 0;
+	return !gpio_get_value(75); /*GPIO3_11*/
 }
 
 int board_mmc_init(bd_t *bis)
diff --git a/board/freescale/mx53loco/mx53loco.c b/board/freescale/mx53loco/mx53loco.c
index b4c7f33..a0fe5fd 100644
--- a/board/freescale/mx53loco/mx53loco.c
+++ b/board/freescale/mx53loco/mx53loco.c
@@ -136,16 +136,14 @@ struct fsl_esdhc_cfg esdhc_cfg[2] = {
 	{MMC_SDHC3_BASE_ADDR, 1},
 };
 
-int board_mmc_getcd(u8 *cd, struct mmc *mmc)
+int board_mmc_getcd(struct mmc *mmc)
 {
 	struct fsl_esdhc_cfg *cfg = (struct fsl_esdhc_cfg *)mmc->priv;
 
 	if (cfg->esdhc_base == MMC_SDHC1_BASE_ADDR)
-		*cd = gpio_get_value(77); /*GPIO3_13*/
-	else
-		*cd = gpio_get_value(75); /*GPIO3_11*/
+		return !gpio_get_value(77); /*GPIO3_13*/
 
-	return 0;
+	return !gpio_get_value(75); /*GPIO3_11*/
 }
 
 int board_mmc_init(bd_t *bis)
diff --git a/board/freescale/mx53smd/mx53smd.c b/board/freescale/mx53smd/mx53smd.c
index 87fa7fa..39274f9 100644
--- a/board/freescale/mx53smd/mx53smd.c
+++ b/board/freescale/mx53smd/mx53smd.c
@@ -132,11 +132,9 @@ struct fsl_esdhc_cfg esdhc_cfg[1] = {
 	{MMC_SDHC1_BASE_ADDR, 1},
 };
 
-int board_mmc_getcd(u8 *cd, struct mmc *mmc)
+int board_mmc_getcd(struct mmc *mmc)
 {
-	*cd = gpio_get_value(77); /*GPIO3_13*/
-
-	return 0;
+	return !gpio_get_value(77); /*GPIO3_13*/
 }
 
 int board_mmc_init(bd_t *bis)
diff --git a/doc/README.atmel_mci b/doc/README.atmel_mci
index dee0cf0..0cbd909 100644
--- a/doc/README.atmel_mci
+++ b/doc/README.atmel_mci
@@ -59,17 +59,9 @@ int board_mmc_init(bd_t *bd)
 }
 
 /* this is a weak define that we are overriding */
-int board_mmc_getcd(u8 *cd, struct mmc *mmc)
+int board_mmc_getcd(struct mmc *mmc)
 {
-	/*
-	 * the only currently existing use of this function
-	 * (fsl_esdhc.c) suggests this function must return
-	 * *cs = TRUE if a card is NOT detected -> in most
-	 * cases the value of the pin when the detect switch
-	 * closes to GND
-	 */
-	*cd = at91_get_gpio_value (CONFIG_SYS_MMC_CD_PIN) ? 1 : 0;
-	return 0;
+	return !at91_get_gpio_value(CONFIG_SYS_MMC_CD_PIN);
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/drivers/mmc/fsl_esdhc.c b/drivers/mmc/fsl_esdhc.c
index ec953f0..f719afd 100644
--- a/drivers/mmc/fsl_esdhc.c
+++ b/drivers/mmc/fsl_esdhc.c
@@ -413,7 +413,6 @@ static int esdhc_init(struct mmc *mmc)
 	struct fsl_esdhc *regs = (struct fsl_esdhc *)cfg->esdhc_base;
 	int timeout = 1000;
 	int ret = 0;
-	u8 card_absent;
 
 	/* Reset the entire host controller */
 	esdhc_write32(&regs->sysctl, SYSCTL_RSTA);
@@ -441,7 +440,8 @@ static int esdhc_init(struct mmc *mmc)
 	esdhc_clrsetbits32(&regs->sysctl, SYSCTL_TIMEOUT_MASK, 14 << 16);
 
 	/* Check if there is a callback for detecting the card */
-	if (board_mmc_getcd(&card_absent, mmc)) {
+	ret = board_mmc_getcd(mmc);
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		timeout = 1000;
 		while (!(esdhc_read32(&regs->prsstat) & PRSSTAT_CINS) &&
 				--timeout)
@@ -450,8 +450,10 @@ static int esdhc_init(struct mmc *mmc)
 		if (timeout <= 0)
 			ret = NO_CARD_ERR;
 	} else {
-		if (card_absent)
+		if (ret == 0)
 			ret = NO_CARD_ERR;
+		else
+			ret = 0;
 	}
 
 	return ret;
diff --git a/drivers/mmc/mmc.c b/drivers/mmc/mmc.c
index 37ce6e8..936259f 100644
--- a/drivers/mmc/mmc.c
+++ b/drivers/mmc/mmc.c
@@ -40,11 +40,11 @@
 static struct list_head mmc_devices;
 static int cur_dev_num = -1;
 
-int __board_mmc_getcd(u8 *cd, struct mmc *mmc) {
+int __board_mmc_getcd(struct mmc *mmc) {
 	return -1;
 }
 
-int board_mmc_getcd(u8 *cd, struct mmc *mmc)__attribute__((weak,
+int board_mmc_getcd(struct mmc *mmc)__attribute__((weak,
 	alias("__board_mmc_getcd")));
 
 int mmc_send_cmd(struct mmc *mmc, struct mmc_cmd *cmd, struct mmc_data *data)
diff --git a/include/mmc.h b/include/mmc.h
index 015a7f3..a850174 100644
--- a/include/mmc.h
+++ b/include/mmc.h
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ struct mmc *find_mmc_device(int dev_num);
 int mmc_set_dev(int dev_num);
 void print_mmc_devices(char separator);
 int get_mmc_num(void);
-int board_mmc_getcd(u8 *cd, struct mmc *mmc);
+int board_mmc_getcd(struct mmc *mmc);
 int mmc_switch_part(int dev_num, unsigned int part_num);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_GENERIC_MMC
