diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/am33xx/ddr.c b/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/am33xx/ddr.c
index fd9fc4a7206..448cc401576 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/am33xx/ddr.c
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/am33xx/ddr.c
@@ -45,13 +45,19 @@ static struct ddr_cmdtctrl *ioctrl_reg = {
  */
 void config_sdram(const struct emif_regs *regs)
 {
-	writel(regs->ref_ctrl, &emif_reg->emif_sdram_ref_ctrl);
-	writel(regs->ref_ctrl, &emif_reg->emif_sdram_ref_ctrl_shdw);
-	if (regs->zq_config){
+	if (regs->zq_config) {
+		/*
+		 * A value of 0x2800 for the REF CTRL will give us
+		 * about 570us for a delay, which will be long enough
+		 * to configure things.
+		 */
+		writel(0x2800, &emif_reg->emif_sdram_ref_ctrl);
 		writel(regs->zq_config, &emif_reg->emif_zq_config);
 		writel(regs->sdram_config, &cstat->secure_emif_sdram_config);
 	}
 	writel(regs->sdram_config, &emif_reg->emif_sdram_config);
+	writel(regs->ref_ctrl, &emif_reg->emif_sdram_ref_ctrl);
+	writel(regs->ref_ctrl, &emif_reg->emif_sdram_ref_ctrl_shdw);
 }
 
 /**