diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/Kconfig b/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/Kconfig
index d96b2ae..a15c4b7 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/Kconfig
@@ -48,14 +48,4 @@
 config SYS_SOC
 	default "mvebu"
 
-config MVEBU_BOOTROM_UARTBOOT
-	bool "Use kwboot to boot via BootROM xmodem protocol"
-	help
-	  This option provides support for booting via the Marvell
-	  xmodem protocol, used by the kwboot tool.
-
-	  Please don't forget to configure the boot device in
-	  the board specific kwbimage.cfg file this way:
-	      BOOT_FROM uart
-
 endif
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/include/mach/soc.h b/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/include/mach/soc.h
index e27a36d..c696fc6 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/include/mach/soc.h
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/include/mach/soc.h
@@ -96,6 +96,12 @@
 #define MVCPU_WIN_ENABLE	CPU_WIN_ENABLE
 #define MVCPU_WIN_DISABLE	CPU_WIN_DISABLE
 
+/* BootROM error register (also includes some status infos) */
+#define CONFIG_BOOTROM_ERR_REG	(MVEBU_REGISTER(0x182d0))
+#define BOOTROM_ERR_MODE_OFFS	28
+#define BOOTROM_ERR_MODE_MASK	(0xf << BOOTROM_ERR_MODE_OFFS)
+#define BOOTROM_ERR_MODE_UART	0x6
+
 #if defined(CONFIG_ARMADA_38X)
 /* SAR values for Armada 38x */
 #define CONFIG_SAR_REG		(MVEBU_REGISTER(0x18600))
@@ -106,7 +112,7 @@
 #define SAR_BOOT_DEVICE_MASK	(0x1f << SAR_BOOT_DEVICE_OFFS)
 
 #define BOOT_DEV_SEL_OFFS	4
-#define BOOT_DEV_SEL_MASK	(0x1f << BOOT_DEV_SEL_OFFS)
+#define BOOT_DEV_SEL_MASK	(0x3f << BOOT_DEV_SEL_OFFS)
 
 #define BOOT_FROM_UART		0x28
 #define BOOT_FROM_SPI		0x32
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/lowlevel_spl.S b/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/lowlevel_spl.S
index 2e2181e..49e0b90 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/lowlevel_spl.S
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/lowlevel_spl.S
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 #include <config.h>
 #include <linux/linkage.h>
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_MVEBU_BOOTROM_UARTBOOT
 ENTRY(save_boot_params)
 	stmfd	sp!, {r0 - r12, lr}	/* @ save registers on stack */
 	ldr	r12, =CONFIG_SPL_BOOTROM_SAVE
@@ -19,11 +18,6 @@
 	mov	r0, #0x0		/* @ return value: 0x0 NO_ERR */
 	ldmfd	sp!, {r0 - r12, pc}	/* @ restore regs and return */
 ENDPROC(return_to_bootrom)
-#else
-ENTRY(save_boot_params)
-	b	save_boot_params_ret
-ENDPROC(save_boot_params)
-#endif
 
 /*
  * cache_inv - invalidate Cache line
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/spl.c b/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/spl.c
index 778996e..0879873 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/spl.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/spl.c
@@ -20,8 +20,23 @@
 	u32 val;
 	u32 boot_device;
 
+	/*
+	 * First check, if UART boot-mode is active. This can only
+	 * be done, via the bootrom error register. Here the
+	 * MSB marks if the UART mode is active.
+	 */
+	val = readl(CONFIG_BOOTROM_ERR_REG);
+	boot_device = (val & BOOTROM_ERR_MODE_MASK) >> BOOTROM_ERR_MODE_OFFS;
+	debug("BOOTROM_REG=0x%08x boot_device=0x%x\n", val, boot_device);
+	if (boot_device == BOOTROM_ERR_MODE_UART)
+		return BOOT_DEVICE_UART;
+
+	/*
+	 * Now check the SAR register for the strapped boot-device
+	 */
 	val = readl(CONFIG_SAR_REG);	/* SAR - Sample At Reset */
 	boot_device = (val & BOOT_DEV_SEL_MASK) >> BOOT_DEV_SEL_OFFS;
+	debug("SAR_REG=0x%08x boot_device=0x%x\n", val, boot_device);
 	switch (boot_device) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_MMC_SUPPORT
 	case BOOT_FROM_MMC:
@@ -90,7 +105,6 @@
 	/* Setup DDR */
 	ddr3_init();
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_MVEBU_BOOTROM_UARTBOOT
 	/*
 	 * Return to the BootROM to continue the Marvell xmodem
 	 * UART boot protocol. As initiated by the kwboot tool.
@@ -102,6 +116,6 @@
 	 * need to return to the BootROM to enable this xmodem
 	 * UART download.
 	 */
-	return_to_bootrom();
-#endif
+	if (get_boot_device() == BOOT_DEVICE_UART)
+		return_to_bootrom();
 }