diff --git a/arch/arm/imx-common/spl.c b/arch/arm/imx-common/spl.c
index bdcda7de93..0c1e4015f4 100644
--- a/arch/arm/imx-common/spl.c
+++ b/arch/arm/imx-common/spl.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ u32 spl_boot_mode(const u32 boot_device)
 	/* for MMC return either RAW or FAT mode */
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_MMC1:
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_MMC2:
-#if defined(CONFIG_SPL_FAT_SUPPORT)
+#if defined(CONFIG_SPL_FAT_SUPPORT) || defined(CONFIG_SPL_EXT_SUPPORT)
 		return MMCSD_MODE_FS;
 #elif defined(CONFIG_SUPPORT_EMMC_BOOT)
 		return MMCSD_MODE_EMMCBOOT;