diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/spl.c b/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/spl.c
index 402e520ea9..ab045b01b7 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/spl.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/spl.c
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ void board_init_f(ulong dummy)
 
 	preloader_console_init();
 
+	timer_init();
+
 	/* First init the serdes PHY's */
 	serdes_phy_config();
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/timer.c b/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/timer.c
index 40c4bc2da1..c516c419ed 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/timer.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-mvebu/timer.c
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@
 #define timestamp			gd->arch.tbl
 #define lastdec				gd->arch.lastinc
 
+static int init_done;
+
 /* Timer reload and current value registers */
 struct kwtmr_val {
 	u32 reload;	/* Timer reload reg */
@@ -112,6 +114,11 @@ void __udelay(unsigned long usec)
  */
 int timer_init(void)
 {
+	/* Only init the timer once */
+	if (init_done)
+		return 0;
+	init_done = 1;
+
 	/* load value into timer */
 	writel(TIMER_LOAD_VAL, CNTMR_RELOAD_REG(UBOOT_CNTR));
 	writel(TIMER_LOAD_VAL, CNTMR_VAL_REG(UBOOT_CNTR));