diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index 0b664807..bbb2f586 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ case "${ostype}" in
 	# try to find out whether this is an Embedded Linux
 	# platform (e.g. Raspberry Pi)
 	machine=$(uname -m)
-	if expr "${machine}" : 'arm' >/dev/null
+	if expr "${machine}" : '^\(arm\|aarch\)' >/dev/null
 	then
 	    extra_enable="${extra_enable} -D HAVE_LINUXGPIO=ON -D HAVE_LINUXSPI=ON"
 	fi
diff --git a/src/avrdude.1 b/src/avrdude.1
index 2cb606ec..a9b5b812 100644
--- a/src/avrdude.1
+++ b/src/avrdude.1
@@ -1228,6 +1228,14 @@ specific.
 .Pp
 When not provided, driver/OS default value will be used.
 .El
+.It Ar linuxspi
+Extended parameter:
+.Bl -tag -offset indent -width indent
+.It Ar disable_no_cs
+Ensures the programmer does not use the SPI_NO_CS bit for the SPI
+driver. This parameter is useful for kernels that do not support
+the CS line being managed outside the application.
+.El
 .El
 .Sh FILES
 .Bl -tag -offset indent -width /dev/ppi0XXX
diff --git a/src/doc/avrdude.texi b/src/doc/avrdude.texi
index e1e73e3e..8644768c 100644
--- a/src/doc/avrdude.texi
+++ b/src/doc/avrdude.texi
@@ -1121,6 +1121,16 @@ specific.
 When not provided, driver/OS default value will be used.
 @end table
 
+@cindex @code{-x} linuxspi
+@item linuxspi
+Extended parameter:
+@table @code
+@item @samp{disable_no_cs}
+Ensures the programmer does not use the SPI_NO_CS bit for the SPI
+driver. This parameter is useful for kernels that do not support
+the CS line being managed outside the application.
+@end table
+
 @end table
 
 @page
diff --git a/src/linuxspi.c b/src/linuxspi.c
index 512755e3..c7806081 100644
--- a/src/linuxspi.c
+++ b/src/linuxspi.c
@@ -62,6 +62,15 @@
 
 #define LINUXSPI "linuxspi"
 
+/*
+ * Private data for this programmer.
+ */
+struct pdata {
+  int disable_no_cs;
+};
+
+#define PDATA(pgm) ((struct pdata *)(pgm->cookie))
+
 static int fd_spidev, fd_gpiochip, fd_linehandle;
 
 /**
@@ -77,21 +86,28 @@ static int linuxspi_spi_duplex(const PROGRAMMER *pgm, const unsigned char *tx, u
         .rx_buf = (unsigned long)rx,
         .len = len,
         .delay_usecs = 1,
-	.speed_hz = 1.0 / pgm->bitclock, // seconds to Hz
+        .speed_hz = 1.0 / pgm->bitclock,
         .bits_per_word = 8,
     };
 
+    errno = 0;
     ret = ioctl(fd_spidev, SPI_IOC_MESSAGE(1), &tr);
-    if (ret != len)
-        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "\n%s: error: Unable to send SPI message\n", progname);
+    if (ret != len) {
+        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "\n%s: unable to send SPI message", progname);
+        if (errno)
+            avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, ". %s", strerror(errno));
+        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "\n");
+    }
 
-    return (ret == -1) ? -1 : 0;
+    return ret == -1? -1: 0;
 }
 
 static void linuxspi_setup(PROGRAMMER *pgm) {
+  pgm->cookie = cfg_malloc("linuxspi_setup()", sizeof(struct pdata));
 }
 
 static void linuxspi_teardown(PROGRAMMER* pgm) {
+  free(pgm->cookie);
 }
 
 static int linuxspi_reset_mcu(const PROGRAMMER *pgm, bool active) {
@@ -116,8 +132,8 @@ static int linuxspi_reset_mcu(const PROGRAMMER *pgm, bool active) {
 #endif
     if (ret == -1) {
         ret = -errno;
-        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s error: Unable to set GPIO line %d value\n",
-                        progname, pgm->pinno[PIN_AVR_RESET] & ~PIN_INVERSE);
+        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s: unable to set GPIO line %d value. %s\n",
+            progname, pgm->pinno[PIN_AVR_RESET] & ~PIN_INVERSE, strerror(errno));
         return ret;
     }
 
@@ -126,8 +142,8 @@ static int linuxspi_reset_mcu(const PROGRAMMER *pgm, bool active) {
 
 static int linuxspi_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *pt) {
     const char *port_error =
-      "%s: error: Unknown port specification. "
-      "Please use the format /dev/spidev:/dev/gpiochip[:resetno]\n";
+      "%s: error, unknown port specification; "
+      "please use the format /dev/spidev:/dev/gpiochip[:resetno]\n";
     char port_default[] = "/dev/spidev0.0:/dev/gpiochip0";
     char *spidev, *gpiochip, *reset_pin;
     char *port = cfg_strdup("linuxspi_open()", pt);
@@ -158,20 +174,28 @@ static int linuxspi_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *pt) {
     strcpy(pgm->port, port);
     fd_spidev = open(pgm->port, O_RDWR);
     if (fd_spidev < 0) {
-        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "\n%s: error: Unable to open the spidev device %s", progname, pgm->port);
+        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "\n%s: unable to open the spidev device %s. %s",
+            progname, pgm->port, strerror(errno));
         return -1;
     }
 
-    uint32_t mode = SPI_MODE_0 | SPI_NO_CS;
+    uint32_t mode = SPI_MODE_0;
+    if (!PDATA(pgm)->disable_no_cs)
+        mode |= SPI_NO_CS;
+
     ret = ioctl(fd_spidev, SPI_IOC_WR_MODE32, &mode);
     if (ret == -1) {
-        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s: error: Unable to set SPI mode %0X on %s\n",
-                        progname, mode, spidev);
+        int ioctl_errno = errno;
+        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s: unable to set SPI mode %02X on %s. %s\n",
+            progname, mode, spidev, strerror(errno));
+        if(ioctl_errno == EINVAL && !PDATA(pgm)->disable_no_cs)
+            avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s: try -x disable_no_cs\n", progname);
         goto close_spidev;
     }
     fd_gpiochip = open(gpiochip, 0);
     if (fd_gpiochip < 0) {
-        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "\n%s error: Unable to open the gpiochip %s", progname, gpiochip);
+        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "\n%s: unable to open the gpiochip %s. %s\n",
+            progname, gpiochip, strerror(errno));
         ret = -1;
         goto close_spidev;
     }
@@ -206,8 +230,8 @@ static int linuxspi_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *pt) {
 #endif
     if (ret == -1) {
         ret = -errno;
-        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s error: Unable to get GPIO line %d\n",
-                        progname, pgm->pinno[PIN_AVR_RESET] & ~PIN_INVERSE);
+        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s: unable to get GPIO line %d. %s\n",
+            progname, pgm->pinno[PIN_AVR_RESET] & ~PIN_INVERSE, strerror(errno));
         goto close_gpiochip;
     }
 
@@ -216,16 +240,15 @@ static int linuxspi_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *pt) {
         goto close_out;
 
     if (pgm->baudrate != 0) {
-      avrdude_message(MSG_INFO,
-		      "%s: obsolete use of -b <clock> option for bit clock; use -B <clock>\n",
-		      progname);
+        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO,
+            "%s: obsolete use of -b <clock> option for bit clock; use -B <clock>\n",
+            progname);
       pgm->bitclock = 1.0 / pgm->baudrate;
     }
     if (pgm->bitclock == 0) {
-      avrdude_message(MSG_NOTICE,
-		      "%s: defaulting bit clock to 200 kHz\n",
-		      progname);
-      pgm->bitclock = 5E-6; // 200 kHz - 5 µs
+        avrdude_message(MSG_NOTICE,
+            "%s: defaulting bit clock to 200 kHz\n", progname);
+        pgm->bitclock = 5E-6; // 200 kHz - 5 µs
     }
 
     return 0;
@@ -272,7 +295,7 @@ static int linuxspi_initialize(const PROGRAMMER *pgm, const AVRPART *p) {
 
     if (p->prog_modes & PM_TPI) {
         /* We do not support TPI. This is a dedicated SPI thing */
-        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s: error: Programmer " LINUXSPI " does not support TPI\n", progname);
+        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s: error, programmer " LINUXSPI " does not support TPI\n", progname);
         return -1;
     }
 
@@ -286,7 +309,7 @@ static int linuxspi_initialize(const PROGRAMMER *pgm, const AVRPART *p) {
     } while(tries++ < 65);
 
     if (ret)
-        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s: error: AVR device not responding\n", progname);
+        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s: error, AVR device not responding\n", progname);
 
     return ret;
 }
@@ -300,7 +323,7 @@ static int linuxspi_program_enable(const PROGRAMMER *pgm, const AVRPART *p) {
     unsigned char cmd[4], res[4];
 
     if (!p->op[AVR_OP_PGM_ENABLE]) {
-        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s: error: program enable instruction not defined for part \"%s\"\n", progname, p->desc);
+        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s: error, program enable instruction not defined for part %s\n", progname, p->desc);
         return -1;
     }
 
@@ -343,7 +366,7 @@ static int linuxspi_chip_erase(const PROGRAMMER *pgm, const AVRPART *p) {
     unsigned char cmd[4], res[4];
 
     if (!p->op[AVR_OP_CHIP_ERASE]) {
-        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s: error: chip erase instruction not defined for part \"%s\"\n", progname, p->desc);
+        avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s: error, chip erase instruction not defined for part %s\n", progname, p->desc);
         return -1;
     }
 
@@ -378,6 +401,27 @@ static int linuxspi_parseexitspecs(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *sp) {
     return 0;
 }
 
+static int linuxspi_parseextparams(const PROGRAMMER *pgm, const LISTID extparms) {
+  LNODEID ln;
+  const char *extended_param;
+  int rc = 0;
+
+  for (ln = lfirst(extparms); ln; ln = lnext(ln)) {
+    extended_param = ldata(ln);
+
+    if (strcmp(extended_param, "disable_no_cs") == 0) {
+      PDATA(pgm)->disable_no_cs = 1;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "%s: linuxspi_parseextparams(): "
+        "invalid extended parameter '%s'\n", progname, extended_param);
+    rc = -1;
+  }
+
+  return rc;
+}
+
 void linuxspi_initpgm(PROGRAMMER *pgm) {
     strcpy(pgm->type, LINUXSPI);
 
@@ -400,6 +444,7 @@ void linuxspi_initpgm(PROGRAMMER *pgm) {
     pgm->setup          = linuxspi_setup;
     pgm->teardown       = linuxspi_teardown;
     pgm->parseexitspecs = linuxspi_parseexitspecs;
+    pgm->parseextparams = linuxspi_parseextparams;
 }
 
 const char linuxspi_desc[] = "SPI using Linux spidev driver";