diff --git a/sys/dev/mmc/mmc_fdt_helpers.c b/sys/dev/mmc/mmc_fdt_helpers.c
--- a/sys/dev/mmc/mmc_fdt_helpers.c
+++ b/sys/dev/mmc/mmc_fdt_helpers.c
@@ -159,6 +159,17 @@
 		return;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * If the device has no card-detection, treat it as non-removable.
+	 * This could be improved by polling for detection.
+	 */
+	if (helper->props & MMC_PROP_BROKEN_CD) {
+		helper->cd_disabled = true;
+		if (bootverbose)
+			device_printf(dev, "Broken card-detect\n");
+		return;
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * If there is no cd-gpios property, then presumably the hardware
 	 * PRESENT_STATE register and interrupts will reflect card state