diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/hda_codec.c b/sound/pci/hda/hda_codec.c
index 644e3f14f8ca..98b6d02a36c9 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/hda_codec.c
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/hda_codec.c
@@ -1919,6 +1919,16 @@ struct snd_kcontrol *snd_hda_find_mixer_ctl(struct hda_codec *codec,
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_HDA(snd_hda_find_mixer_ctl);
 
+static int find_empty_mixer_ctl_idx(struct hda_codec *codec, const char *name)
+{
+	int idx;
+	for (idx = 0; idx < 16; idx++) { /* 16 ctlrs should be large enough */
+		if (!_snd_hda_find_mixer_ctl(codec, name, idx))
+			return idx;
+	}
+	return -EBUSY;
+}
+
 /**
  * snd_hda_ctl_add - Add a control element and assign to the codec
  * @codec: HD-audio codec
@@ -2654,8 +2664,6 @@ static struct snd_kcontrol_new dig_mixes[] = {
 	{ } /* end */
 };
 
-#define SPDIF_MAX_IDX	4	/* 4 instances should be enough to probe */
-
 /**
  * snd_hda_create_spdif_out_ctls - create Output SPDIF-related controls
  * @codec: the HDA codec
@@ -2673,12 +2681,8 @@ int snd_hda_create_spdif_out_ctls(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t nid)
 	struct snd_kcontrol_new *dig_mix;
 	int idx;
 
-	for (idx = 0; idx < SPDIF_MAX_IDX; idx++) {
-		if (!_snd_hda_find_mixer_ctl(codec, "IEC958 Playback Switch",
-					     idx))
-			break;
-	}
-	if (idx >= SPDIF_MAX_IDX) {
+	idx = find_empty_mixer_ctl_idx(codec, "IEC958 Playback Switch");
+	if (idx < 0) {
 		printk(KERN_ERR "hda_codec: too many IEC958 outputs\n");
 		return -EBUSY;
 	}
@@ -2829,12 +2833,8 @@ int snd_hda_create_spdif_in_ctls(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t nid)
 	struct snd_kcontrol_new *dig_mix;
 	int idx;
 
-	for (idx = 0; idx < SPDIF_MAX_IDX; idx++) {
-		if (!_snd_hda_find_mixer_ctl(codec, "IEC958 Capture Switch",
-					     idx))
-			break;
-	}
-	if (idx >= SPDIF_MAX_IDX) {
+	idx = find_empty_mixer_ctl_idx(codec, "IEC958 Capture Switch");
+	if (idx < 0) {
 		printk(KERN_ERR "hda_codec: too many IEC958 inputs\n");
 		return -EBUSY;
 	}
@@ -3808,21 +3808,32 @@ int snd_hda_add_new_ctls(struct hda_codec *codec, struct snd_kcontrol_new *knew)
 
 	for (; knew->name; knew++) {
 		struct snd_kcontrol *kctl;
+		int addr = 0, idx = 0;
 		if (knew->iface == -1)	/* skip this codec private value */
 			continue;
-		kctl = snd_ctl_new1(knew, codec);
-		if (!kctl)
-			return -ENOMEM;
-		err = snd_hda_ctl_add(codec, 0, kctl);
-		if (err < 0) {
-			if (!codec->addr)
-				return err;
+		for (;;) {
 			kctl = snd_ctl_new1(knew, codec);
 			if (!kctl)
 				return -ENOMEM;
-			kctl->id.device = codec->addr;
+			if (addr > 0)
+				kctl->id.device = addr;
+			if (idx > 0)
+				kctl->id.index = idx;
 			err = snd_hda_ctl_add(codec, 0, kctl);
-			if (err < 0)
+			if (!err)
+				break;
+			/* try first with another device index corresponding to
+			 * the codec addr; if it still fails (or it's the
+			 * primary codec), then try another control index
+			 */
+			if (!addr && codec->addr)
+				addr = codec->addr;
+			else if (!idx && !knew->index) {
+				idx = find_empty_mixer_ctl_idx(codec,
+							       knew->name);
+				if (idx <= 0)
+					return err;
+			} else
 				return err;
 		}
 	}