diff --git a/board/samsung/common/board.c b/board/samsung/common/board.c
index c4b6baedf0..6fd26a3a91 100644
--- a/board/samsung/common/board.c
+++ b/board/samsung/common/board.c
@@ -306,14 +306,16 @@ int checkboard(void)
 #ifdef CONFIG_BOARD_LATE_INIT
 int board_late_init(void)
 {
-	stdio_print_current_devices();
+	struct udevice *dev;
+	int ret;
 
-	if (cros_ec_get_error()) {
+	stdio_print_current_devices();
+	ret = uclass_first_device_err(UCLASS_CROS_EC, &dev);
+	if (ret && ret != -ENODEV) {
 		/* Force console on */
 		gd->flags &= ~GD_FLG_SILENT;
 
-		printf("cros-ec communications failure %d\n",
-		       cros_ec_get_error());
+		printf("cros-ec communications failure %d\n", ret);
 		puts("\nPlease reset with Power+Refresh\n\n");
 		panic("Cannot init cros-ec device");
 		return -1;
diff --git a/board/sandbox/sandbox.c b/board/sandbox/sandbox.c
index 0e87674826..397e7561d4 100644
--- a/board/sandbox/sandbox.c
+++ b/board/sandbox/sandbox.c
@@ -59,12 +59,15 @@ int board_init(void)
 #ifdef CONFIG_BOARD_LATE_INIT
 int board_late_init(void)
 {
-	if (cros_ec_get_error()) {
+	struct udevice *dev;
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = uclass_first_device_err(UCLASS_CROS_EC, &dev);
+	if (ret && ret != -ENODEV) {
 		/* Force console on */
 		gd->flags &= ~GD_FLG_SILENT;
 
-		printf("cros-ec communications failure %d\n",
-		       cros_ec_get_error());
+		printf("cros-ec communications failure %d\n", ret);
 		puts("\nPlease reset with Power+Refresh\n\n");
 		panic("Cannot init cros-ec device");
 		return -1;
diff --git a/common/cros_ec.c b/common/cros_ec.c
index 4ca15e19d5..e66471ebd1 100644
--- a/common/cros_ec.c
+++ b/common/cros_ec.c
@@ -25,15 +25,3 @@ struct udevice *board_get_cros_ec_dev(void)
 	}
 	return dev;
 }
-
-int cros_ec_get_error(void)
-{
-	struct udevice *dev;
-	int ret;
-
-	ret = uclass_get_device(UCLASS_CROS_EC, 0, &dev);
-	if (ret && ret != -ENODEV)
-		return ret;
-
-	return 0;
-}