diff --git a/src/xfpm-backlight-helper.c b/src/xfpm-backlight-helper.c
index 6e96849c..29a38a44 100644
--- a/src/xfpm-backlight-helper.c
+++ b/src/xfpm-backlight-helper.c
@@ -613,6 +613,23 @@ main (gint argc, gchar *argv[])
 
 	/* get current brightness level */
 	if (get_brightness) {
+		gint actual_brightness, max_brightness;
+
+		/* In some systems 'actual_brightness' is not reliable, that's why we
+		 * need to check if it's between 0 and 'max_brightness', otherwise
+		 * fallback to 'brightness' */
+		filename_file = g_build_filename (filename, "max_brightness", NULL);
+		ret = g_file_get_contents (filename_file, &contents, NULL, &error);
+		if (!ret) {
+			g_print ("Could not get the maximum value of the backlight: %s\n", error->message);
+			g_error_free (error);
+			retval = EXIT_CODE_ARGUMENTS_INVALID;
+			goto out;
+		}
+		max_brightness = g_ascii_strtoll (contents, NULL, 10);
+		g_free (contents);
+		g_free (filename_file);
+
 		filename_file = g_build_filename (filename, "actual_brightness", NULL);
 		ret = g_file_get_contents (filename_file, &contents, NULL, &error);
 		if (!ret) {
@@ -621,6 +638,21 @@ main (gint argc, gchar *argv[])
 			retval = EXIT_CODE_ARGUMENTS_INVALID;
 			goto out;
 		}
+		actual_brightness = g_ascii_strtoll (contents, NULL, 10);
+
+		if (actual_brightness < 0 || actual_brightness > max_brightness) {
+			g_free (contents);
+			g_free (filename_file);
+
+			filename_file = g_build_filename (filename, "brightness", NULL);
+			ret = g_file_get_contents (filename_file, &contents, NULL, &error);
+			if (!ret) {
+				g_print ("Could not get the value of the backlight: %s\n", error->message);
+				g_error_free (error);
+				retval = EXIT_CODE_ARGUMENTS_INVALID;
+				goto out;
+			}
+		}
 
 		/* just print the contents to stdout */
 		g_print ("%s", contents);