diff --git a/chipdrivers.h b/chipdrivers.h
index c85eac96c..eeb9d2712 100644
--- a/chipdrivers.h
+++ b/chipdrivers.h
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@
 
 #include "flash.h"	/* for chipaddr and flashctx */
 
+/* flashrom.c */
+int probe_dummy(struct flashctx *flash);
+
 /* spi.c */
 int spi_aai_write(struct flashctx *flash, const uint8_t *buf, unsigned int start, unsigned int len);
 int spi_chip_write_256(struct flashctx *flash, const uint8_t *buf, unsigned int start, unsigned int len);
diff --git a/flashrom.c b/flashrom.c
index 25e53f20c..c8d477dae 100644
--- a/flashrom.c
+++ b/flashrom.c
@@ -405,6 +405,18 @@ const struct programmer_entry programmer_table[] = {
 	{0}, /* This entry corresponds to PROGRAMMER_INVALID. */
 };
 
+/* This is a dummy probe for flash chips that cannot be probed for. */
+int probe_dummy(struct flashctx *flash)
+{
+	if (!chip_to_probe || strcmp(chip_to_probe, flash->chip->name)) {
+		msg_cdbg("Cant probe for this chip. Use 'flashrom -c %s' if you have one.\n", flash->chip->name);
+		return 0;
+	}
+	msg_cdbg("selected by user (Note: probing not possible or not implemented).\n");
+	return 1;
+}
+
+
 #define SHUTDOWN_MAXFN 32
 static int shutdown_fn_count = 0;
 struct shutdown_func_data {