diff --git a/server/drivers/hd44780-serial.c b/server/drivers/hd44780-serial.c
index 549fb8a..fd25694 100644
--- a/server/drivers/hd44780-serial.c
+++ b/server/drivers/hd44780-serial.c
@@ -266,10 +266,18 @@ void
 serial_HD44780_backlight (PrivateData *p, unsigned char state)
 {
 	if (p->have_backlight) {
-                unsigned char send[1];
-                send[0] = state ? SERIAL_IF.backlight_on : SERIAL_IF.backlight_off;
-                write(p->fd, &send, 1);
-        }
+		if (SERIAL_IF.backlight_escape) {
+			unsigned char send[2];
+			send[0] = SERIAL_IF.backlight_escape;
+			send[1] = state ? 0 : 0xFF;
+			write(p->fd, &send, 2);
+		}
+		else {
+			unsigned char send[1];
+			send[0] = state ? SERIAL_IF.backlight_on : SERIAL_IF.backlight_off;
+			write(p->fd, &send, 1);
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 unsigned char
diff --git a/server/drivers/hd44780-serial.h b/server/drivers/hd44780-serial.h
index b050984..6576bc1 100644
--- a/server/drivers/hd44780-serial.h
+++ b/server/drivers/hd44780-serial.h
@@ -18,20 +18,21 @@ typedef struct SerialInterface {
 	char         keypad;
 	char         keypad_escape;
 	char         backlight;
- 	char         backlight_off;
- 	char         backlight_on;
+	char         backlight_escape; /* leave to 0 is the interface uses on/off codes   */
+	char         backlight_off;
+	char         backlight_on;     /* leave these two to 0 is backlight_escape is set */
  	char         multiple_displays;
 } SerialInterface;
 
 /* List of connectiontypes managed by this driver, if you change
    something here, remember also to change hd44780-drivers.h */
 static const SerialInterface serial_interfaces[] = {
- 	/*    name         instr data     v     ^ bitrate bits  K   esc  B  Boff   Bon Multi */
-	{ "picanlcd",      0x11, 0x12, 0x00, 0x20,   9600,   8, 0, 0x00, 0,    0,    0,   0 },
- 	{ "lcdserializer", 0xFE,    0, 0x00, 0x00,   9600,   8, 0, 0x00, 0,    0,    0,   0 },
- 	{ "los-panel",     0xFE,    0, 0x00, 0x00,   9600,   4, 1, 0xFE, 0,    0,    0,   0 },
- 	{ "vdr-lcd",       0xFE,    0, 0x00, 0x00,   9600,   4, 0, 0x00, 0,    0,    0,   0 },
- 	{ "vdr-wakeup",    0xC0, 0xC4, 0xC0, 0xD0,   9600,   4, 0, 0x00, 1, 0xC9, 0xC8,   1 }
+	/*    name         instr data     v     ^ bitrate bits  K   esc  B  Besc  Boff   Bon Multi */
+	{ "picanlcd",      0x11, 0x12, 0x00, 0x20,   9600,   8, 0, 0x00, 0,    0,    0,    0,   0 },
+	{ "lcdserializer", 0xFE,    0, 0x00, 0x00,   9600,   8, 0, 0x00, 0,    0,    0,    0,   0 },
+	{ "los-panel",     0xFE,    0, 0x00, 0x00,   9600,   4, 1, 0xFE, 1, 0xFF,    0,    0,   0 },
+	{ "vdr-lcd",       0xFE,    0, 0x00, 0x00,   9600,   4, 0, 0x00, 0,    0,    0,    0,   0 },
+	{ "vdr-wakeup",    0xC0, 0xC4, 0xC0, 0xD0,   9600,   4, 0, 0x00, 1,    0, 0xC9, 0xC8,   1 }
 };
 
 /* initialize this particular driver */