diff -purN linux-2.6.37/drivers/firmware/dcdbas.c linux-2.6.37_test/drivers/firmware/dcdbas.c
--- linux-2.6.37/drivers/firmware/dcdbas.c	2011-01-18 10:44:44.869882461 -0500
+++ linux-2.6.37_test/drivers/firmware/dcdbas.c	2011-01-18 10:41:15.404612154 -0500
@@ -278,6 +278,9 @@ int dcdbas_smi_request(struct smi_cmd *s
 		: "memory"
 	);
 
+	/* read to force posted write through and make SMI happen now */
+	inb(smi_cmd->command_address);
+
 out:
 	set_cpus_allowed_ptr(current, old_mask);
 	free_cpumask_var(old_mask);