diff --git a/package/base-files/Makefile b/package/base-files/Makefile
index a7cc4ca48b..87e02ff7d2 100644
--- a/package/base-files/Makefile
+++ b/package/base-files/Makefile
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/version.mk
 include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/feeds.mk
 
 PKG_NAME:=base-files
-PKG_RELEASE:=181
+PKG_RELEASE:=182
 PKG_FLAGS:=nonshared
 
 PKG_FILE_DEPENDS:=$(PLATFORM_DIR)/ $(GENERIC_PLATFORM_DIR)/base-files/
diff --git a/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/gpio_switch b/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/gpio_switch
index 5a62be94cc..b67950a992 100755
--- a/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/gpio_switch
+++ b/package/base-files/files/etc/init.d/gpio_switch
@@ -22,10 +22,9 @@ load_gpio_switch()
 		echo "$gpio_pin" >/sys/class/gpio/export
 		# we need to wait a bit until the GPIO appears
 		[ -d "$gpio_path" ] || sleep 1
-		echo out >"$gpio_path/direction"
 	}
-	# write 0 or 1 to the "value" field
-	{ [ "$value" = "0" ] && echo "0" || echo "1"; } >"$gpio_path/value"
+	# set the pin to output with high or low pin value
+	{ [ "$value" = "0" ] && echo "high" || echo "low"; } >"$gpio_path/direction"
 }
 
 service_triggers()