diff --git a/env/dataflash.c b/env/dataflash.c
index 6d95d64..8ab482b 100644
--- a/env/dataflash.c
+++ b/env/dataflash.c
@@ -68,25 +68,9 @@
 				CONFIG_ENV_SIZE);
 }
 
-/*
- * Initialize environment use
- *
- * We are still running from ROM, so data use is limited.
- * Use a (moderately small) buffer on the stack
- */
-int env_dataflash_init(void)
-{
-	/* use default */
-	gd->env_addr = (ulong)&default_environment[0];
-	gd->env_valid = ENV_VALID;
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
 U_BOOT_ENV_LOCATION(dataflash) = {
 	.location	= ENVL_DATAFLASH,
 	.get_char	= env_dataflash_get_char,
 	.load		= env_dataflash_load,
 	.save		= env_save_ptr(env_dataflash_save),
-	.init		= env_dataflash_init,
 };
diff --git a/env/eeprom.c b/env/eeprom.c
index eb69f75..3cc4126 100644
--- a/env/eeprom.c
+++ b/env/eeprom.c
@@ -231,23 +231,9 @@
 	return rc;
 }
 
-/*
- * Initialize Environment use
- *
- * We are still running from ROM, so data use is limited.
- * Use a (moderately small) buffer on the stack
- */
-static int env_eeprom_init(void)
-{
-	gd->env_addr = (ulong)&default_environment[0];
-	gd->env_valid = ENV_VALID;
-	return 0;
-}
-
 U_BOOT_ENV_LOCATION(eeprom) = {
 	.location	= ENVL_EEPROM,
 	.get_char	= env_eeprom_get_char,
 	.load		= env_eeprom_load,
 	.save		= env_save_ptr(env_eeprom_save),
-	.init		= env_eeprom_init,
 };
diff --git a/env/env.c b/env/env.c
index d327f9c..12cd475 100644
--- a/env/env.c
+++ b/env/env.c
@@ -128,14 +128,18 @@
 int env_init_new(void)
 {
 	struct env_driver *drv = env_driver_lookup_default();
-	int ret;
+	int ret = -ENOENT;
 
 	if (!drv)
 		return -ENODEV;
-	if (!drv->init)
-		return -ENOSYS;
-	ret = drv->init();
-	if (ret) {
+	if (drv->init)
+		ret = drv->init();
+	if (ret == -ENOENT) {
+		gd->env_addr = (ulong)&default_environment[0];
+		gd->env_valid = 0;
+
+		return 0;
+	} else if (ret) {
 		debug("%s: Environment failed to init (err=%d)\n", __func__,
 		      ret);
 		return ret;
diff --git a/env/ext4.c b/env/ext4.c
index aa69219..25a5cbe 100644
--- a/env/ext4.c
+++ b/env/ext4.c
@@ -37,15 +37,6 @@
 
 DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
 
-static int env_ext4_init(void)
-{
-	/* use default */
-	gd->env_addr = (ulong)&default_environment[0];
-	gd->env_valid = ENV_VALID;
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_CMD_SAVEENV
 static int env_ext4_save(void)
 {
@@ -132,5 +123,4 @@
 	.location	= ENVL_EXT4,
 	.load		= env_ext4_load,
 	.save		= env_save_ptr(env_ext4_save),
-	.init		= env_ext4_init,
 };
diff --git a/env/fat.c b/env/fat.c
index b959013..1ff3d9d 100644
--- a/env/fat.c
+++ b/env/fat.c
@@ -37,15 +37,6 @@
 
 DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
 
-static int env_fat_init(void)
-{
-	/* use default */
-	gd->env_addr = (ulong)&default_environment[0];
-	gd->env_valid = ENV_VALID;
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
 #ifdef CMD_SAVEENV
 static int env_fat_save(void)
 {
@@ -131,5 +122,4 @@
 #ifdef CMD_SAVEENV
 	.save		= env_save_ptr(env_fat_save),
 #endif
-	.init		= env_fat_init,
 };
diff --git a/env/mmc.c b/env/mmc.c
index d63feea..966f620 100644
--- a/env/mmc.c
+++ b/env/mmc.c
@@ -82,15 +82,6 @@
 	return CONFIG_SYS_MMC_ENV_DEV;
 }
 
-static int env_mmc_init(void)
-{
-	/* use default */
-	gd->env_addr	= (ulong)&default_environment[0];
-	gd->env_valid	= ENV_VALID;
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_SYS_MMC_ENV_PART
 __weak uint mmc_get_env_part(struct mmc *mmc)
 {
@@ -331,5 +322,4 @@
 #ifndef CONFIG_SPL_BUILD
 	.save		= env_save_ptr(env_mmc_save),
 #endif
-	.init		= env_mmc_init,
 };
diff --git a/env/nowhere.c b/env/nowhere.c
index 6a67ab0..1d2ae85 100644
--- a/env/nowhere.c
+++ b/env/nowhere.c
@@ -17,25 +17,6 @@
 
 env_t *env_ptr;
 
-static void env_nowhere_load(void)
-{
-}
-
-/*
- * Initialize Environment use
- *
- * We are still running from ROM, so data use is limited
- */
-static int env_nowhere_init(void)
-{
-	gd->env_addr	= (ulong)&default_environment[0];
-	gd->env_valid	= 0;
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
 U_BOOT_ENV_LOCATION(nowhere) = {
 	.location	= ENVL_NOWHERE,
-	.load		= env_nowhere_load,
-	.init		= env_nowhere_init,
 };
diff --git a/env/onenand.c b/env/onenand.c
index f72aa4b..cb1ab53 100644
--- a/env/onenand.c
+++ b/env/onenand.c
@@ -106,18 +106,8 @@
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int env_onenand_init(void)
-{
-	/* use default */
-	gd->env_addr = (ulong)&default_environment[0];
-	gd->env_valid = ENV_VALID;
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
 U_BOOT_ENV_LOCATION(onenand) = {
 	.location	= ENVL_ONENAND,
 	.load		= env_onenand_load,
 	.save		= env_save_ptr(env_onenand_save),
-	.init		= env_onenand_init,
 };
diff --git a/env/remote.c b/env/remote.c
index 0324cba..c5dce5b 100644
--- a/env/remote.c
+++ b/env/remote.c
@@ -33,9 +33,7 @@
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	gd->env_addr = (ulong)default_environment;
-	gd->env_valid = 0;
-	return 0;
+	return -ENOENT;
 }
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_CMD_SAVEENV
diff --git a/env/sata.c b/env/sata.c
index 6f90998..a5ff54c 100644
--- a/env/sata.c
+++ b/env/sata.c
@@ -33,15 +33,6 @@
 	return CONFIG_SYS_SATA_ENV_DEV;
 }
 
-static int env_sata_init(void)
-{
-	/* use default */
-	gd->env_addr = (ulong)&default_environment[0];
-	gd->env_valid = ENV_VALID;
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_CMD_SAVEENV
 static inline int write_env(struct blk_desc *sata, unsigned long size,
 			    unsigned long offset, void *buffer)
@@ -130,5 +121,4 @@
 	.location	= ENVL_ESATA,
 	.load		= env_sata_load,
 	.save		= env_save_ptr(env_sata_save),
-	.init		= env_sata_init,
 };
diff --git a/env/sf.c b/env/sf.c
index 82babaa..a07641b 100644
--- a/env/sf.c
+++ b/env/sf.c
@@ -344,20 +344,10 @@
 }
 #endif
 
-static int env_sf_init(void)
-{
-	/* SPI flash isn't usable before relocation */
-	gd->env_addr = (ulong)&default_environment[0];
-	gd->env_valid = ENV_VALID;
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
 U_BOOT_ENV_LOCATION(sf) = {
 	.location	= ENVL_SPI_FLASH,
 	.load		= env_sf_load,
 #ifdef CMD_SAVEENV
 	.save		= env_save_ptr(env_sf_save),
 #endif
-	.init		= env_sf_init,
 };
diff --git a/env/ubi.c b/env/ubi.c
index 3b6344d..4811f97 100644
--- a/env/ubi.c
+++ b/env/ubi.c
@@ -22,15 +22,6 @@
 
 DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
 
-static int env_ubi_init(void)
-{
-	/* use default */
-	gd->env_addr = (ulong)&default_environment[0];
-	gd->env_valid = ENV_VALID;
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_CMD_SAVEENV
 #ifdef CONFIG_SYS_REDUNDAND_ENVIRONMENT
 static int env_ubi_save(void)
@@ -182,5 +173,4 @@
 	.location	= ENVL_UBI,
 	.load		= env_ubi_load,
 	.save		= env_save_ptr(env_ubi_save),
-	.init		= env_ubi_init,
 };
diff --git a/include/environment.h b/include/environment.h
index ff3f542..7eaba72 100644
--- a/include/environment.h
+++ b/include/environment.h
@@ -259,7 +259,8 @@
 	 *
 	 * This method is optional.
 	 *
-	 * @return 0 if OK, -ve on error
+	 * @return 0 if OK, -ENOENT if no initial environment could be found,
+	 * other -ve on error
 	 */
 	int (*init)(void);
 };