diff --git a/board/atmel/at91sam9rlek/at91sam9rlek.c b/board/atmel/at91sam9rlek/at91sam9rlek.c
index 0c4d51765e..0b603ed13a 100644
--- a/board/atmel/at91sam9rlek/at91sam9rlek.c
+++ b/board/atmel/at91sam9rlek/at91sam9rlek.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <common.h>
+#include <debug_uart.h>
 #include <asm/io.h>
 #include <asm/arch/at91sam9rl.h>
 #include <asm/arch/at91sam9rl_matrix.h>
@@ -155,10 +156,22 @@ void lcd_show_board_info(void)
 #endif /* CONFIG_LCD_INFO */
 #endif
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BOARD_INIT
+void board_debug_uart_init(void)
+{
+	at91_seriald_hw_init();
+}
+#endif
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_BOARD_EARLY_INIT_F
 int board_early_init_f(void)
 {
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_UART
+	debug_uart_init();
+#endif
 	return 0;
 }
+#endif
 
 int board_init(void)
 {
diff --git a/configs/at91sam9rlek_dataflash_defconfig b/configs/at91sam9rlek_dataflash_defconfig
index 24fbfe619c..d4abb2a2fd 100644
--- a/configs/at91sam9rlek_dataflash_defconfig
+++ b/configs/at91sam9rlek_dataflash_defconfig
@@ -34,5 +34,11 @@ CONFIG_GENERIC_ATMEL_MCI=y
 CONFIG_PINCTRL=y
 CONFIG_PINCTRL_AT91=y
 CONFIG_DM_SERIAL=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ATMEL=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BASE=0xfffff200
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_CLOCK=100000000
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BOARD_INIT=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ANNOUNCE=y
 CONFIG_ATMEL_USART=y
 CONFIG_LCD=y
diff --git a/configs/at91sam9rlek_mmc_defconfig b/configs/at91sam9rlek_mmc_defconfig
index a46deac284..9a40c41f36 100644
--- a/configs/at91sam9rlek_mmc_defconfig
+++ b/configs/at91sam9rlek_mmc_defconfig
@@ -34,5 +34,11 @@ CONFIG_GENERIC_ATMEL_MCI=y
 CONFIG_PINCTRL=y
 CONFIG_PINCTRL_AT91=y
 CONFIG_DM_SERIAL=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ATMEL=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BASE=0xfffff200
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_CLOCK=100000000
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BOARD_INIT=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ANNOUNCE=y
 CONFIG_ATMEL_USART=y
 CONFIG_LCD=y
diff --git a/configs/at91sam9rlek_nandflash_defconfig b/configs/at91sam9rlek_nandflash_defconfig
index b6400d0317..d68b562b0e 100644
--- a/configs/at91sam9rlek_nandflash_defconfig
+++ b/configs/at91sam9rlek_nandflash_defconfig
@@ -34,5 +34,11 @@ CONFIG_GENERIC_ATMEL_MCI=y
 CONFIG_PINCTRL=y
 CONFIG_PINCTRL_AT91=y
 CONFIG_DM_SERIAL=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ATMEL=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BASE=0xfffff200
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_CLOCK=100000000
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BOARD_INIT=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ANNOUNCE=y
 CONFIG_ATMEL_USART=y
 CONFIG_LCD=y