diff --git a/arch/x86/cpu/start64.S b/arch/x86/cpu/start64.S
index a473fd1..a78a331 100644
--- a/arch/x86/cpu/start64.S
+++ b/arch/x86/cpu/start64.S
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ _start:
 
 	call	board_init_f_init_reserve
 
+	xor	%rdi, %rdi
 	call	board_init_f
 	call	board_init_f_r
 
diff --git a/arch/x86/cpu/x86_64/cpu.c b/arch/x86/cpu/x86_64/cpu.c
index ef5e812..6c063e8 100644
--- a/arch/x86/cpu/x86_64/cpu.c
+++ b/arch/x86/cpu/x86_64/cpu.c
@@ -19,24 +19,6 @@ struct global_data *global_data_ptr = (struct global_data *)~0;
 void arch_setup_gd(gd_t *new_gd)
 {
 	global_data_ptr = new_gd;
-
-	/*
-	 * TODO(sjg@chromium.org): For some reason U-Boot does not boot
-	 * without this line. It fails to start up U-Boot proper and instead
-	 * restarts SPL. Need to figure out why:
-	 *
-	 * U-Boot SPL 2017.01
-	 *
-	 * U-Boot SPL 2017.01
-	 * CPU:   Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3427U CPU @ 1.80GHz
-	 * Trying to boot from SPIJumping to 64-bit U-Boot: Note many
-	 * features are missing
-	 *
-	 * U-Boot SPL 2017.01
-	 */
-#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_UART
-	printch(' ');
-#endif
 }
 
 int cpu_has_64bit(void)