diff --git a/board/atmel/at91sam9263ek/at91sam9263ek.c b/board/atmel/at91sam9263ek/at91sam9263ek.c
index 41ec752570..60ff1c0cd3 100644
--- a/board/atmel/at91sam9263ek/at91sam9263ek.c
+++ b/board/atmel/at91sam9263ek/at91sam9263ek.c
@@ -254,6 +254,7 @@ int board_early_init_f(void)
 		(1 << ATMEL_ID_PIOCDE),
 		&pmc->pcer);
 
+	at91_seriald_hw_init();
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -267,7 +268,6 @@ int board_init(void)
 	/* adress of boot parameters */
 	gd->bd->bi_boot_params = CONFIG_SYS_SDRAM_BASE + 0x100;
 
-	at91_seriald_hw_init();
 #ifdef CONFIG_CMD_NAND
 	at91sam9263ek_nand_hw_init();
 #endif