diff --git a/include/configs/ti_am335x_common.h b/include/configs/ti_am335x_common.h
index 128b66e..80976e7 100644
--- a/include/configs/ti_am335x_common.h
+++ b/include/configs/ti_am335x_common.h
@@ -75,6 +75,15 @@
 #define CONFIG_SKIP_LOWLEVEL_INIT
 #endif
 
+/*
+ * When building U-Boot such that there is no previous loader
+ * we need to call board_early_init_f.  This is taken care of in
+ * s_init when we have SPL used.
+ */
+#if !defined(CONFIG_SKIP_LOWLEVEL_INIT) && !defined(CONFIG_SPL)
+#define CONFIG_BOARD_EARLY_INIT_F
+#endif
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_NAND
 #define CONFIG_SPL_NAND_AM33XX_BCH	/* ELM support */
 #endif