diff --git a/Documentation/hwmon/arctic_fan_controller.rst b/Documentation/hwmon/arctic_fan_controller.rst
index b5be88ae464d..200e51932a19 100644
--- a/Documentation/hwmon/arctic_fan_controller.rst
+++ b/Documentation/hwmon/arctic_fan_controller.rst
@@ -29,18 +29,16 @@ Usage notes
 Since it is a USB device, hotplug is supported. The device is autodetected.
 
 The device does not support GET_REPORT, so the driver cannot read back the
-current hardware PWM state at probe time. The cached PWM values (readable
-via pwm[1-10]) start at 0 and reflect only values that have been
-successfully written. Because each OUT report carries all 10 channel values,
-writing a single channel also sends the cached values for all other channels.
-Users should set all channels to the desired values before relying on the
-cached state.
+current hardware PWM state at probe time. Each OUT report carries all 10
+channels, so pwm[1-10] is a host cache. It starts at the MCU factory
+default of 40% (sysfs 102). After a successful write, the cache reflects
+that value. Users should set all channels to the desired values before
+relying on the cached state.
 
-On system suspend, the device may lose power and reset its PWM channels to
-hardware defaults. The driver clears its cached duty values on resume so
-that reads reflect the unknown hardware state rather than stale pre-suspend
-values. Userspace is responsible for re-applying the desired duty cycles
-after resume.
+On system suspend, the device may lose power and reset PWM to the factory
+default. The driver restores the cache to 40% on resume. If the device
+kept power across suspend, userspace should re-apply the desired duty
+cycles.
 
 Sysfs entries
 -------------
@@ -51,6 +49,6 @@ pwm[1-10]        PWM duty cycle (0-255). Write: sends an OUT report setting the
                  duty cycle (scaled from 0-255 to 0-100% for the device);
                  the cached value is updated only after the device ACKs the
                  command with a success status. Read: returns the last
-                 successfully written value; initialized to 0 at driver load
-                 and after resume (hardware state unknown).
+                 successfully written value; initialized to 102 (40%) at
+                 driver load and after resume (MCU factory default).
 ================ ==============================================================
diff --git a/drivers/hwmon/arctic_fan_controller.c b/drivers/hwmon/arctic_fan_controller.c
index dbe84cd93c08..9a6092572736 100644
--- a/drivers/hwmon/arctic_fan_controller.c
+++ b/drivers/hwmon/arctic_fan_controller.c
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@
  * Measured over 500 iterations: max ~563 ms. Keep 1 s as margin.
  */
 #define ARCTIC_ACK_TIMEOUT_MS		1000
+/* MCU factory default; 40% of 0-255 is 102. */
+#define ARCTIC_PWM_DEFAULT		102
 
 struct arctic_fan_data {
 	struct hid_device *hdev;
@@ -164,7 +166,7 @@ static int arctic_fan_write(struct device *dev, enum hwmon_sensor_types type,
 
 	/*
 	 * Build the buffer and arm write_pending under in_report_lock so that
-	 * reset_resume() cannot clear pwm_duty[] between the pwm_duty[] read
+	 * reset_resume() cannot replace pwm_duty[] between the pwm_duty[] read
 	 * and the buffer write, and raw_event() cannot deliver a stale ACK
 	 * from a previous write into this write's completion.
 	 *
@@ -256,14 +258,14 @@ static int arctic_fan_reset_resume(struct hid_device *hdev)
 	unsigned long flags;
 
 	/*
-	 * The device resets its PWM channels to hardware defaults on power
-	 * loss during suspend. Clear the cached duty values so they reflect
-	 * the unknown hardware state, consistent with probe-time behaviour
-	 * (the device has no GET_REPORT support). Hold in_report_lock so
-	 * this does not race with a concurrent pwm read or write callback.
+	 * The device resets its PWM channels to the MCU factory default
+	 * (40%) on power loss during suspend. Restore the cache to that
+	 * same default, consistent with probe-time behaviour (the device
+	 * has no GET_REPORT support). Hold in_report_lock so this does
+	 * not race with a concurrent pwm read or write callback.
 	 */
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&priv->in_report_lock, flags);
-	memset(priv->pwm_duty, 0, sizeof(priv->pwm_duty));
+	memset(priv->pwm_duty, ARCTIC_PWM_DEFAULT, sizeof(priv->pwm_duty));
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&priv->in_report_lock, flags);
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -288,6 +290,8 @@ static int arctic_fan_probe(struct hid_device *hdev,
 	priv->hdev = hdev;
 	spin_lock_init(&priv->in_report_lock);
 	init_completion(&priv->in_report_received);
+	/* Same MCU factory default as reset_resume(); see ARCTIC_PWM_DEFAULT above. */
+	memset(priv->pwm_duty, ARCTIC_PWM_DEFAULT, sizeof(priv->pwm_duty));
 	hid_set_drvdata(hdev, priv);
 
 	ret = hid_hw_start(hdev, HID_CONNECT_DRIVER);