diff --git a/board/gdsys/mpc8308/hrcon.c b/board/gdsys/mpc8308/hrcon.c
index 79e3b25..d14a28e 100644
--- a/board/gdsys/mpc8308/hrcon.c
+++ b/board/gdsys/mpc8308/hrcon.c
@@ -287,8 +287,8 @@
 	/*
 	 * set "startup-finished"-gpios
 	 */
-	setbits_be32(&immr->gpio[0].dir, (BIT(31 - 11) | BIT(31 - 12)));
-	setbits_be32(&immr->gpio[0].dat, BIT(31 - 12));
+	setbits_be32(&immr->gpio[0].dir, BIT(31 - 11) | BIT(31 - 12));
+	setbits_gpio0_out(BIT(31 - 12));
 }
 
 int mpc8308_get_fpga_done(uint fpga)
diff --git a/board/gdsys/mpc8308/mpc8308.c b/board/gdsys/mpc8308/mpc8308.c
index 9fe1d66..a53135b 100644
--- a/board/gdsys/mpc8308/mpc8308.c
+++ b/board/gdsys/mpc8308/mpc8308.c
@@ -24,6 +24,25 @@
 
 DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
 
+/* as gpio output status cannot be read back, we have to buffer it locally */
+u32 gpio0_out;
+
+void setbits_gpio0_out(u32 mask)
+{
+	immap_t *immr = (immap_t *)CONFIG_SYS_IMMR;
+
+	gpio0_out |= mask;
+	out_be32(&immr->gpio[0].dat, gpio0_out);
+}
+
+void clrbits_gpio0_out(u32 mask)
+{
+	immap_t *immr = (immap_t *)CONFIG_SYS_IMMR;
+
+	gpio0_out &= ~mask;
+	out_be32(&immr->gpio[0].dat, gpio0_out);
+}
+
 int get_fpga_state(uint dev)
 {
 	return gd->arch.fpga_state[dev];
diff --git a/board/gdsys/mpc8308/mpc8308.h b/board/gdsys/mpc8308/mpc8308.h
index dc07d56..1e4f24f 100644
--- a/board/gdsys/mpc8308/mpc8308.h
+++ b/board/gdsys/mpc8308/mpc8308.h
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #ifndef __MPC8308_H_
 #define __MPC8308_H_
 
+void setbits_gpio0_out(u32 mask);
+void clrbits_gpio0_out(u32 mask);
+
 /* functions to be provided by board implementation */
 void mpc8308_init(void);
 void mpc8308_set_fpga_reset(unsigned state);
diff --git a/board/gdsys/mpc8308/strider.c b/board/gdsys/mpc8308/strider.c
index b1997f4..1fdea67 100644
--- a/board/gdsys/mpc8308/strider.c
+++ b/board/gdsys/mpc8308/strider.c
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@
 	 * set "startup-finished"-gpios
 	 */
 	setbits_be32(&immr->gpio[0].dir, BIT(31 - 11) | BIT(31 - 12));
-	setbits_be32(&immr->gpio[0].dat, BIT(31 - 12));
+	setbits_gpio0_out(BIT(31 - 12));
 }
 
 int mpc8308_get_fpga_done(uint fpga)