diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-omap2/serial.c b/arch/arm/mach-omap2/serial.c
index 8c964be..e10a02d 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-omap2/serial.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-omap2/serial.c
@@ -36,7 +36,13 @@
 #define UART_OMAP_NO_EMPTY_FIFO_READ_IP_REV	0x52
 #define UART_OMAP_WER		0x17	/* Wake-up enable register */
 
-#define DEFAULT_TIMEOUT (5 * HZ)
+/*
+ * NOTE: By default the serial timeout is disabled as it causes lost characters
+ * over the serial ports. This means that the UART clocks will stay on until
+ * disabled via sysfs. This also causes that any deeper omap sleep states are
+ * blocked. 
+ */
+#define DEFAULT_TIMEOUT 0
 
 struct omap_uart_state {
 	int num;
@@ -422,7 +428,8 @@
 	uart->timeout = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT;
 	setup_timer(&uart->timer, omap_uart_idle_timer,
 		    (unsigned long) uart);
-	mod_timer(&uart->timer, jiffies + uart->timeout);
+	if (uart->timeout)
+		mod_timer(&uart->timer, jiffies + uart->timeout);
 	omap_uart_smart_idle_enable(uart, 0);
 
 	if (cpu_is_omap34xx()) {