diff --git a/src/ec/google/chromeec/ec.c b/src/ec/google/chromeec/ec.c
index acba0dfefb..fb8a014d0a 100644
--- a/src/ec/google/chromeec/ec.c
+++ b/src/ec/google/chromeec/ec.c
@@ -107,6 +107,31 @@ int google_chromeec_kbbacklight(int percent)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+bool google_chromeec_has_kbbacklight(void)
+{
+	/* Try the feature flag (most reliable for modern ECs) */
+	int feature_check = google_chromeec_check_feature(EC_FEATURE_PWM_KEYB);
+
+	if (feature_check > 0) {
+		printk(BIOS_DEBUG, "Chrome EC: Keyboard backlight detected (feature flag)\n");
+		return true;
+	} else if (feature_check == 0) {
+		printk(BIOS_DEBUG, "Chrome EC: No keyboard backlight (feature flag)\n");
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	printk(BIOS_DEBUG, "Chrome EC: Feature flag unavailable, testing backlight read\n");
+	struct ec_response_pwm_get_keyboard_backlight resp = {};
+
+	if (ec_cmd_pwm_get_keyboard_backlight(PLAT_EC, &resp) == 0) {
+		printk(BIOS_DEBUG, "Chrome EC: Keyboard backlight detected (read test)\n");
+		return true;
+	} else {
+		printk(BIOS_DEBUG, "Chrome EC: No keyboard backlight (read test)\n");
+		return false;
+	}
+}
+
 void google_chromeec_post(uint8_t postcode)
 {
 	/* backlight is a percent. postcode is a uint8_t.
diff --git a/src/ec/google/chromeec/ec.h b/src/ec/google/chromeec/ec.h
index febef6c1ab..3c77eeb459 100644
--- a/src/ec/google/chromeec/ec.h
+++ b/src/ec/google/chromeec/ec.h
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ int google_chromeec_set_sku_id(uint32_t skuid);
 uint64_t  google_chromeec_get_events_b(void);
 int google_chromeec_clear_events_b(uint64_t mask);
 int google_chromeec_kbbacklight(int percent);
+bool google_chromeec_has_kbbacklight(void);
 void google_chromeec_post(uint8_t postcode);
 uint8_t google_chromeec_get_switches(void);
 bool google_chromeec_get_ap_watchdog_flag(void);