diff --git a/board/samus/board.c b/board/samus/board.c
index 4871bb0f10..ddb8c97450 100644
--- a/board/samus/board.c
+++ b/board/samus/board.c
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ const struct gpio_info gpio_list[] = {
 	{"USB1_STATUS_L",        LM4_GPIO_E, (1<<6), GPIO_INPUT, NULL},
 	{"USB2_OC_L",            LM4_GPIO_E, (1<<0), GPIO_INPUT, NULL},
 	{"USB2_STATUS_L",        LM4_GPIO_D, (1<<7), GPIO_INPUT, NULL},
+	{"BAT_DETECT_L",	 LM4_GPIO_B, (1<<4), GPIO_INPUT, NULL},
 	/* Not yet sure if this will need to be handled as an interrupt */
 	{"CAPSENSE_INT_L",       LM4_GPIO_N, (1<<0), GPIO_INPUT, NULL},
 
@@ -227,3 +228,11 @@ struct keyboard_scan_config keyscan_config = {
 		0xa4, 0xff, 0xf6, 0x55, 0xfa, 0xc8  /* full set */
 	},
 };
+
+/**
+ * Physical detection of battery connection.
+ */
+int battery_is_connected(void)
+{
+	return (gpio_get_level(GPIO_BAT_DETECT_L) == 0);
+}
diff --git a/board/samus/board.h b/board/samus/board.h
index f9d6114653..1e2e6e7402 100644
--- a/board/samus/board.h
+++ b/board/samus/board.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #define CONFIG_POWER_BUTTON
 #define CONFIG_POWER_BUTTON_X86
 
+#define CONFIG_BATTERY_CHECK_CONNECTED
 #define CONFIG_BATTERY_LINK
 #define CONFIG_BATTERY_SMART
 #define CONFIG_BACKLIGHT_LID
@@ -108,6 +109,7 @@ enum gpio_signal {
 	GPIO_USB1_STATUS_L,        /* USB charger port 1 status output */
 	GPIO_USB2_OC_L,            /* USB port overcurrent warning */
 	GPIO_USB2_STATUS_L,        /* USB charger port 2 status output */
+	GPIO_BAT_DETECT_L,	   /* Battery detect from BAT_TEMP */
 	GPIO_CAPSENSE_INT_L,       /* Capsense interrupt (through EC_WAKE_L) */
 
 	/* Outputs */