diff --git a/common/spl/spl.c b/common/spl/spl.c
index 766fb3d6f4..2bc8b42027 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl.c
@@ -170,22 +170,20 @@ __weak void __noreturn jump_to_image_no_args(struct spl_image_info *spl_image)
 	image_entry();
 }
 
-int spl_init(void)
+static int spl_common_init(bool setup_malloc)
 {
 	int ret;
 
-	debug("spl_init()\n");
-/*
- * with CONFIG_SPL_STACK_R_MALLOC_SIMPLE_LEN we set malloc_base and
- * malloc_limit in spl_relocate_stack_gd
- */
-#if defined(CONFIG_SYS_MALLOC_F_LEN) && \
-	!defined(CONFIG_SPL_STACK_R_MALLOC_SIMPLE_LEN)
+	debug("spl_early_init()\n");
+
+#if defined(CONFIG_SYS_MALLOC_F_LEN)
+	if (setup_malloc) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_MALLOC_F_ADDR
-	gd->malloc_base = CONFIG_MALLOC_F_ADDR;
+		gd->malloc_base = CONFIG_MALLOC_F_ADDR;
 #endif
-	gd->malloc_limit = CONFIG_SYS_MALLOC_F_LEN;
-	gd->malloc_ptr = 0;
+		gd->malloc_limit = CONFIG_SYS_MALLOC_F_LEN;
+		gd->malloc_ptr = 0;
+	}
 #endif
 	if (CONFIG_IS_ENABLED(OF_CONTROL) && !CONFIG_IS_ENABLED(OF_PLATDATA)) {
 		ret = fdtdec_setup();
@@ -202,6 +200,32 @@ int spl_init(void)
 			return ret;
 		}
 	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int spl_early_init(void)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = spl_common_init(true);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+	gd->flags |= GD_FLG_SPL_EARLY_INIT;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int spl_init(void)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	if (!(gd->flags & GD_FLG_SPL_EARLY_INIT)) {
+		ret = spl_common_init(
+			!IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_STACK_R_MALLOC_SIMPLE_LEN));
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
+	}
 	gd->flags |= GD_FLG_SPL_INIT;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/include/asm-generic/global_data.h b/include/asm-generic/global_data.h
index e02863dc03..5b356dd231 100644
--- a/include/asm-generic/global_data.h
+++ b/include/asm-generic/global_data.h
@@ -127,5 +127,6 @@ typedef struct global_data {
 #define GD_FLG_SKIP_RELOC	0x00800	/* Don't relocate		   */
 #define GD_FLG_RECORD		0x01000	/* Record console		   */
 #define GD_FLG_ENV_DEFAULT	0x02000 /* Default variable flag	   */
+#define GD_FLG_SPL_EARLY_INIT	0x04000 /* Early SPL init is done	   */
 
 #endif /* __ASM_GENERIC_GBL_DATA_H */
diff --git a/include/spl.h b/include/spl.h
index bde44374ea..cdd196d187 100644
--- a/include/spl.h
+++ b/include/spl.h
@@ -213,11 +213,29 @@ int spl_load_image_ext_os(struct spl_image_info *spl_image,
 			  struct blk_desc *block_dev, int partition);
 
 /**
- * spl_init() - Set up device tree and driver model in SPL if enabled
+ * spl_early_init() - Set up device tree and driver model in SPL if enabled
  *
  * Call this function in board_init_f() if you want to use device tree and
- * driver model early, before board_init_r() is called. This function will
- * be called from board_init_r() if not called earlier.
+ * driver model early, before board_init_r() is called.
+ *
+ * If this is not called, then driver model will be inactive in SPL's
+ * board_init_f(), and no device tree will be available.
+ */
+int spl_early_init(void);
+
+/**
+ * spl_init() - Set up device tree and driver model in SPL if enabled
+ *
+ * You can optionally call spl_early_init(), then optionally call spl_init().
+ * This function will be called from board_init_r() if not called earlier.
+ *
+ * Both spl_early_init() and spl_init() perform a similar function except that
+ * the latter will not set up the malloc() area if
+ * CONFIG_SPL_STACK_R_MALLOC_SIMPLE_LEN is enabled, since it is assumed to
+ * already be done by a calll to spl_relocate_stack_gd() before board_init_r()
+ * is reached.
+ *
+ * This function will be called from board_init_r() if not called earlier.
  *
  * If this is not called, then driver model will be inactive in SPL's
  * board_init_f(), and no device tree will be available.