diff --git a/board/atmel/at91sam9263ek/at91sam9263ek.c b/board/atmel/at91sam9263ek/at91sam9263ek.c
index 2aafafe35ee..3de978311de 100644
--- a/board/atmel/at91sam9263ek/at91sam9263ek.c
+++ b/board/atmel/at91sam9263ek/at91sam9263ek.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <common.h>
+#include <debug_uart.h>
 #include <linux/sizes.h>
 #include <asm/arch/at91sam9263.h>
 #include <asm/arch/at91sam9_smc.h>
@@ -176,10 +177,22 @@ 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/at91sam9263ek_dataflash_cs0_defconfig b/configs/at91sam9263ek_dataflash_cs0_defconfig
index 701a49b1151..02e91148cef 100644
--- a/configs/at91sam9263ek_dataflash_cs0_defconfig
+++ b/configs/at91sam9263ek_dataflash_cs0_defconfig
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ CONFIG_MACB=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=0xffffee00
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_CLOCK=100000000
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BOARD_INIT=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ANNOUNCE=y
 CONFIG_ATMEL_USART=y
 CONFIG_USB=y
 CONFIG_DM_USB=y
diff --git a/configs/at91sam9263ek_dataflash_defconfig b/configs/at91sam9263ek_dataflash_defconfig
index 701a49b1151..02e91148cef 100644
--- a/configs/at91sam9263ek_dataflash_defconfig
+++ b/configs/at91sam9263ek_dataflash_defconfig
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ CONFIG_MACB=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=0xffffee00
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_CLOCK=100000000
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BOARD_INIT=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ANNOUNCE=y
 CONFIG_ATMEL_USART=y
 CONFIG_USB=y
 CONFIG_DM_USB=y
diff --git a/configs/at91sam9263ek_nandflash_defconfig b/configs/at91sam9263ek_nandflash_defconfig
index 951f08d6623..2ddcf2b7142 100644
--- a/configs/at91sam9263ek_nandflash_defconfig
+++ b/configs/at91sam9263ek_nandflash_defconfig
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ CONFIG_MACB=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=0xffffee00
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_CLOCK=100000000
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BOARD_INIT=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ANNOUNCE=y
 CONFIG_ATMEL_USART=y
 CONFIG_USB=y
 CONFIG_DM_USB=y
diff --git a/configs/at91sam9263ek_norflash_boot_defconfig b/configs/at91sam9263ek_norflash_boot_defconfig
index 4f8d19b9b10..21480c5d071 100644
--- a/configs/at91sam9263ek_norflash_boot_defconfig
+++ b/configs/at91sam9263ek_norflash_boot_defconfig
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ CONFIG_MACB=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=0xffffee00
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_CLOCK=100000000
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BOARD_INIT=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ANNOUNCE=y
 CONFIG_ATMEL_USART=y
 CONFIG_MTD_NOR_FLASH=y
 CONFIG_USB=y
diff --git a/configs/at91sam9263ek_norflash_defconfig b/configs/at91sam9263ek_norflash_defconfig
index a39d0961874..824c366c443 100644
--- a/configs/at91sam9263ek_norflash_defconfig
+++ b/configs/at91sam9263ek_norflash_defconfig
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ CONFIG_MACB=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=0xffffee00
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_CLOCK=100000000
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BOARD_INIT=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ANNOUNCE=y
 CONFIG_ATMEL_USART=y
 CONFIG_MTD_NOR_FLASH=y
 CONFIG_USB=y