diff --git a/src/ipa/rkisp1/algorithms/blc.cpp b/src/ipa/rkisp1/algorithms/blc.cpp
index d2e743541c99..b17b549c55df 100644
--- a/src/ipa/rkisp1/algorithms/blc.cpp
+++ b/src/ipa/rkisp1/algorithms/blc.cpp
@@ -46,10 +46,47 @@ BlackLevelCorrection::BlackLevelCorrection()
 int BlackLevelCorrection::init([[maybe_unused]] IPAContext &context,
 			       const YamlObject &tuningData)
 {
-	blackLevelRed_ = tuningData["R"].get<int16_t>(256);
-	blackLevelGreenR_ = tuningData["Gr"].get<int16_t>(256);
-	blackLevelGreenB_ = tuningData["Gb"].get<int16_t>(256);
-	blackLevelBlue_ = tuningData["B"].get<int16_t>(256);
+	std::optional<int16_t> levelRed = tuningData["R"].get<int16_t>();
+	std::optional<int16_t> levelGreenR = tuningData["Gr"].get<int16_t>();
+	std::optional<int16_t> levelGreenB = tuningData["Gb"].get<int16_t>();
+	std::optional<int16_t> levelBlue = tuningData["B"].get<int16_t>();
+	bool tuningHasLevels = levelRed && levelGreenR && levelGreenB && levelBlue;
+
+	auto blackLevel = context.camHelper->blackLevel();
+	if (!blackLevel) {
+		/*
+		 * Not all camera sensor helpers have been updated with black
+		 * levels. Print a warning and fall back to the levels from the
+		 * tuning data to preserve backward compatibility. This should
+		 * be removed once all helpers provide the data.
+		 */
+		LOG(RkISP1Blc, Warning)
+			<< "No black levels provided by camera sensor helper"
+			<< ", please fix";
+
+		blackLevelRed_ = levelRed.value_or(4096);
+		blackLevelGreenR_ = levelGreenR.value_or(4096);
+		blackLevelGreenB_ = levelGreenB.value_or(4096);
+		blackLevelBlue_ = levelBlue.value_or(4096);
+	} else if (tuningHasLevels) {
+		/*
+		 * If black levels are provided in the tuning file, use them to
+		 * avoid breaking existing camera tuning. This is deprecated and
+		 * will be removed.
+		 */
+		LOG(RkISP1Blc, Warning)
+			<< "Deprecated: black levels overwritten by tuning file";
+
+		blackLevelRed_ = *levelRed;
+		blackLevelGreenR_ = *levelGreenR;
+		blackLevelGreenB_ = *levelGreenB;
+		blackLevelBlue_ = *levelBlue;
+	} else {
+		blackLevelRed_ = *blackLevel;
+		blackLevelGreenR_ = *blackLevel;
+		blackLevelGreenB_ = *blackLevel;
+		blackLevelBlue_ = *blackLevel;
+	}
 
 	tuningParameters_ = true;
 
@@ -77,10 +114,11 @@ void BlackLevelCorrection::prepare([[maybe_unused]] IPAContext &context,
 		return;
 
 	params->others.bls_config.enable_auto = 0;
-	params->others.bls_config.fixed_val.r = blackLevelRed_;
-	params->others.bls_config.fixed_val.gr = blackLevelGreenR_;
-	params->others.bls_config.fixed_val.gb = blackLevelGreenB_;
-	params->others.bls_config.fixed_val.b = blackLevelBlue_;
+	/* The rkisp1 uses 12bit based black levels. Scale down accordingly. */
+	params->others.bls_config.fixed_val.r = blackLevelRed_ >> 4;
+	params->others.bls_config.fixed_val.gr = blackLevelGreenR_ >> 4;
+	params->others.bls_config.fixed_val.gb = blackLevelGreenB_ >> 4;
+	params->others.bls_config.fixed_val.b = blackLevelBlue_ >> 4;
 
 	params->module_en_update |= RKISP1_CIF_ISP_MODULE_BLS;
 	params->module_ens |= RKISP1_CIF_ISP_MODULE_BLS;