diff --git a/board/isee/igep003x/board.c b/board/isee/igep003x/board.c
index 2d0ebbf..e33170d 100644
--- a/board/isee/igep003x/board.c
+++ b/board/isee/igep003x/board.c
@@ -166,6 +166,14 @@
 		config_ddr(400, &ioregs_igep0034_lite, &ddr3_igep0034_lite_data,
 			&ddr3_igep0034_lite_cmd_ctrl_data, &ddr3_igep0034_lite_emif_reg_data, 0);
 }
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_SPL_OS_BOOT
+int spl_start_uboot(void)
+{
+	/* break into full u-boot on 'c' */
+	return serial_tstc() && serial_getc() == 'c';
+}
+#endif
 #endif
 
 /*
diff --git a/configs/am335x_igep003x_defconfig b/configs/am335x_igep003x_defconfig
index df7d1c6..8fc3146 100644
--- a/configs/am335x_igep003x_defconfig
+++ b/configs/am335x_igep003x_defconfig
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 CONFIG_SPL_EXT_SUPPORT=y
 CONFIG_SPL_I2C_SUPPORT=y
 CONFIG_SPL_MTD_SUPPORT=y
+CONFIG_SPL_OS_BOOT=y
 CONFIG_SPL_POWER_SUPPORT=y
 CONFIG_SPL_YMODEM_SUPPORT=y
 CONFIG_HUSH_PARSER=y