diff --git a/uisimulator/common/backlight-sim.c b/uisimulator/common/backlight-sim.c
index aa8fe8e844..f5da77a782 100644
--- a/uisimulator/common/backlight-sim.c
+++ b/uisimulator/common/backlight-sim.c
@@ -30,17 +30,28 @@ extern void lcd_awake(void);
 /* in uisimulator/sdl/lcd-bitmap.c and lcd-charcell.c */
 extern void sim_backlight(int value);
 
+bool _backlight_init(void)
+{
+    return true;
+}
+
+
+#ifdef HAVE_BACKLIGHT_BRIGHTNESS
+
 static inline int normalize_backlight(int val)
 {
     /* normalize to xx% brightness for sdl */
     return ((val - MIN_BRIGHTNESS_SETTING + 1) * 100)/MAX_BRIGHTNESS_SETTING;
 }
 
-bool _backlight_init(void)
+void _backlight_set_brightness(int val)
 {
-    return true;
+    sim_backlight(normalize_backlight(val));
 }
 
+#endif /* HAVE_BACKLIGHT_BRIGHTNESS */
+
+
 void _backlight_on(void)
 {
 #if defined(HAVE_LCD_ENABLE)
@@ -51,7 +62,12 @@ void _backlight_on(void)
 #if (CONFIG_BACKLIGHT_FADING != BACKLIGHT_FADING_SW_SETTING)
     /* if we set the brightness to the settings value, then fading up
      * is glitchy */
+#ifdef HAVE_BACKLIGHT_BRIGHTNESS
     sim_backlight(normalize_backlight(backlight_brightness));
+#else
+    sim_backlight(100);
+#endif
+
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -63,12 +79,7 @@ void _backlight_off(void)
 #endif
 }
 
-#ifdef HAVE_BACKLIGHT_BRIGHTNESS
-void _backlight_set_brightness(int val)
-{
-    sim_backlight(normalize_backlight(val));
-}
-#endif /* HAVE_BACKLIGHT_BRIGHTNESS */
+
 #ifdef HAVE_BUTTON_LIGHT
 void _buttonlight_on(void)
 {