diff --git a/arch/arm/Kconfig b/arch/arm/Kconfig
index fbe90875ae..54762ce03a 100644
--- a/arch/arm/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/arm/Kconfig
@@ -1045,6 +1045,7 @@ config ARCH_SUNXI
 	select SPL_USE_TINY_PRINTF
 	select USE_PREBOOT
 	select SYS_RELOC_GD_ENV_ADDR
+	imply BOARD_LATE_INIT
 	imply CMD_DM
 	imply CMD_GPT
 	imply CMD_UBI if MTD_RAW_NAND
diff --git a/board/sunxi/board.c b/board/sunxi/board.c
index 708a27ed78..77e4647188 100644
--- a/board/sunxi/board.c
+++ b/board/sunxi/board.c
@@ -890,6 +890,11 @@ int misc_init_r(void)
 
 	setup_environment(gd->fdt_blob);
 
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int board_late_init(void)
+{
 #ifdef CONFIG_USB_ETHER
 	usb_ether_init();
 #endif