diff --git a/arch/mips/bcm47xx/bcm47xx_private.h b/arch/mips/bcm47xx/bcm47xx_private.h
index 12a112dd0ae0..ea909a56a3ee 100644
--- a/arch/mips/bcm47xx/bcm47xx_private.h
+++ b/arch/mips/bcm47xx/bcm47xx_private.h
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ int __init bcm47xx_buttons_register(void);
 /* leds.c */
 void __init bcm47xx_leds_register(void);
 
+/* setup.c */
+void __init bcm47xx_bus_setup(void);
+
 /* workarounds.c */
 void __init bcm47xx_workarounds(void);
 
diff --git a/arch/mips/bcm47xx/irq.c b/arch/mips/bcm47xx/irq.c
index e0585b76ec19..21b4497f09be 100644
--- a/arch/mips/bcm47xx/irq.c
+++ b/arch/mips/bcm47xx/irq.c
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
  *  675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
  */
 
+#include "bcm47xx_private.h"
+
 #include <linux/types.h>
 #include <linux/interrupt.h>
 #include <linux/irq.h>
@@ -65,6 +67,12 @@ DEFINE_HWx_IRQDISPATCH(7)
 
 void __init arch_init_irq(void)
 {
+	/*
+	 * This is the first arch callback after mm_init (we can use kmalloc),
+	 * so let's finish bus initialization now.
+	 */
+	bcm47xx_bus_setup();
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_BCM47XX_BCMA
 	if (bcm47xx_bus_type == BCM47XX_BUS_TYPE_BCMA) {
 		bcma_write32(bcm47xx_bus.bcma.bus.drv_mips.core,
diff --git a/arch/mips/bcm47xx/setup.c b/arch/mips/bcm47xx/setup.c
index 444c65a09970..e43b5046cb30 100644
--- a/arch/mips/bcm47xx/setup.c
+++ b/arch/mips/bcm47xx/setup.c
@@ -156,15 +156,14 @@ static void __init bcm47xx_register_bcma(void)
 	err = bcma_host_soc_register(&bcm47xx_bus.bcma);
 	if (err)
 		panic("Failed to register BCMA bus (err %d)", err);
-
-	err = bcma_host_soc_init(&bcm47xx_bus.bcma);
-	if (err)
-		panic("Failed to initialize BCMA bus (err %d)", err);
-
-	bcm47xx_fill_bcma_boardinfo(&bcm47xx_bus.bcma.bus.boardinfo, NULL);
 }
 #endif
 
+/*
+ * Memory setup is done in the early part of MIPS's arch_mem_init. It's supposed
+ * to detect memory and record it with add_memory_region.
+ * Any extra initializaion performed here must not use kmalloc or bootmem.
+ */
 void __init plat_mem_setup(void)
 {
 	struct cpuinfo_mips *c = &current_cpu_data;
@@ -193,6 +192,28 @@ void __init plat_mem_setup(void)
 	_machine_restart = bcm47xx_machine_restart;
 	_machine_halt = bcm47xx_machine_halt;
 	pm_power_off = bcm47xx_machine_halt;
+}
+
+/*
+ * This finishes bus initialization doing things that were not possible without
+ * kmalloc. Make sure to call it late enough (after mm_init).
+ */
+void __init bcm47xx_bus_setup(void)
+{
+#ifdef CONFIG_BCM47XX_BCMA
+	if (bcm47xx_bus_type == BCM47XX_BUS_TYPE_BCMA) {
+		int err;
+
+		err = bcma_host_soc_init(&bcm47xx_bus.bcma);
+		if (err)
+			panic("Failed to initialize BCMA bus (err %d)", err);
+
+		bcm47xx_fill_bcma_boardinfo(&bcm47xx_bus.bcma.bus.boardinfo,
+					    NULL);
+	}
+#endif
+
+	/* With bus initialized we can access NVRAM and detect the board */
 	bcm47xx_board_detect();
 	mips_set_machine_name(bcm47xx_board_get_name());
 }