diff --git a/include/configs/sun4i.h b/include/configs/sun4i.h
index 87d269b..1537e53 100644
--- a/include/configs/sun4i.h
+++ b/include/configs/sun4i.h
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@
  */
 #define CONFIG_CLK_FULL_SPEED		1008000000
 
-#define CONFIG_MACH_TYPE		4104
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_USB_EHCI
 #define CONFIG_USB_EHCI_SUNXI
 #define CONFIG_USB_MAX_CONTROLLER_COUNT	2
@@ -25,4 +23,6 @@
  */
 #include <configs/sunxi-common.h>
 
+#define CONFIG_MACH_TYPE	(4104 | ((CONFIG_MACH_TYPE_COMPAT_REV) << 28))
+
 #endif /* __CONFIG_H */
diff --git a/include/configs/sun5i.h b/include/configs/sun5i.h
index 52e3a6f..e755531 100644
--- a/include/configs/sun5i.h
+++ b/include/configs/sun5i.h
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@
  */
 #define CONFIG_CLK_FULL_SPEED		1008000000
 
-#define CONFIG_MACH_TYPE		4138
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_USB_EHCI
 #define CONFIG_USB_EHCI_SUNXI
 #define CONFIG_USB_MAX_CONTROLLER_COUNT	1
@@ -25,4 +23,6 @@
  */
 #include <configs/sunxi-common.h>
 
+#define CONFIG_MACH_TYPE	(4138 | ((CONFIG_MACH_TYPE_COMPAT_REV) << 28))
+
 #endif /* __CONFIG_H */
diff --git a/include/configs/sun7i.h b/include/configs/sun7i.h
index 7cd7890..f817f73 100644
--- a/include/configs/sun7i.h
+++ b/include/configs/sun7i.h
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
  */
 #define CONFIG_CLK_FULL_SPEED		912000000
 
-#define CONFIG_MACH_TYPE		4283
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_USB_EHCI
 #define CONFIG_USB_EHCI_SUNXI
 #define CONFIG_USB_MAX_CONTROLLER_COUNT	2
@@ -31,4 +29,6 @@
  */
 #include <configs/sunxi-common.h>
 
+#define CONFIG_MACH_TYPE	(4283 | ((CONFIG_MACH_TYPE_COMPAT_REV) << 28))
+
 #endif /* __CONFIG_H */
diff --git a/include/configs/sunxi-common.h b/include/configs/sunxi-common.h
index 0b4f0a0..bd7d049 100644
--- a/include/configs/sunxi-common.h
+++ b/include/configs/sunxi-common.h
@@ -13,6 +13,22 @@
 #ifndef _SUNXI_COMMON_CONFIG_H
 #define _SUNXI_COMMON_CONFIG_H
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_OLD_SUNXI_KERNEL_COMPAT
+/*
+ * The U-Boot workarounds bugs in the outdated buggy sunxi-3.4 kernels at the
+ * expense of restricting some features, so the regular machine id values can
+ * be used.
+ */
+# define CONFIG_MACH_TYPE_COMPAT_REV	0
+#else
+/*
+ * A compatibility guard to prevent loading outdated buggy sunxi-3.4 kernels.
+ * Only sunxi-3.4 kernels with appropriate fixes applied are able to pass
+ * beyond the machine id check.
+ */
+# define CONFIG_MACH_TYPE_COMPAT_REV	1
+#endif
+
 /*
  * High Level Configuration Options
  */