diff --git a/board/ti/evm/evm.c b/board/ti/evm/evm.c
index 73330db..09d14f7 100644
--- a/board/ti/evm/evm.c
+++ b/board/ti/evm/evm.c
@@ -46,6 +46,11 @@
 
 static void omap3_evm_get_revision(void)
 {
+#if defined(CONFIG_CMD_NET)
+	/*
+	 * Board revision can be ascertained only by identifying
+	 * the Ethernet chipset.
+	 */
 	unsigned int smsc_id;
 
 	/* Ethernet PHY ID is stored at ID_REV register */
@@ -62,6 +67,19 @@
 	default:
 		omap3_evm_version = OMAP3EVM_BOARD_GEN_2;
        }
+#else
+#if defined(CONFIG_STATIC_BOARD_REV)
+	/*
+	 * Look for static defintion of the board revision
+	 */
+	omap3_evm_version = CONFIG_STATIC_BOARD_REV;
+#else
+	/*
+	 * Fallback to the default above.
+	 */
+	omap3_evm_version = OMAP3EVM_BOARD_GEN_2;
+#endif
+#endif	/* CONFIG_CMD_NET */
 }
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_USB_OMAP3
@@ -110,6 +128,7 @@
 #if defined(CONFIG_CMD_NET)
 	setup_net_chip();
 #endif
+	omap3_evm_get_revision();
 
 	dieid_num_r();
 
@@ -163,9 +182,6 @@
 	writel(GPIO0, &gpio3_base->cleardataout);
 	udelay(1);
 	writel(GPIO0, &gpio3_base->setdataout);
-
-	/* determine omap3evm revision */
-	omap3_evm_get_revision();
 }
 
 int board_eth_init(bd_t *bis)
diff --git a/board/ti/evm/evm.h b/board/ti/evm/evm.h
index e2581f6..a76deb8 100644
--- a/board/ti/evm/evm.h
+++ b/board/ti/evm/evm.h
@@ -47,7 +47,9 @@
 
 u8 get_omap3_evm_rev(void);
 
+#if defined(CONFIG_CMD_NET)
 static void setup_net_chip(void);
+#endif
 
 /*
  * IEN  - Input Enable
diff --git a/include/configs/omap3_evm.h b/include/configs/omap3_evm.h
index 3ff66b5..aeb45c6 100644
--- a/include/configs/omap3_evm.h
+++ b/include/configs/omap3_evm.h
@@ -350,6 +350,11 @@
 #define CONFIG_SYS_SDRAM_BASE		PHYS_SDRAM_1
 #define CONFIG_SYS_INIT_SP_ADDR		(LOW_LEVEL_SRAM_STACK - CONFIG_SYS_GBL_DATA_SIZE)
 
+/*
+ * Define the board revision statically
+ */
+/* #define CONFIG_STATIC_BOARD_REV	OMAP3EVM_BOARD_GEN_2 */
+
 /*----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * SMSC9115 Ethernet from SMSC9118 family
  *----------------------------------------------------------------------------