diff --git a/common/command.c b/common/command.c
index c5cecd3..fe29075 100644
--- a/common/command.c
+++ b/common/command.c
@@ -487,3 +487,24 @@ void fixup_cmdtable(cmd_tbl_t *cmdtp, int size)
 	}
 }
 #endif
+
+/**
+ * Call a command function. This should be the only route in U-Boot to call
+ * a command, so that we can track whether we are waiting for input or
+ * executing a command.
+ *
+ * @param cmdtp		Pointer to the command to execute
+ * @param flag		Some flags normally 0 (see CMD_FLAG_.. above)
+ * @param argc		Number of arguments (arg 0 must be the command text)
+ * @param argv		Arguments
+ * @return 0 if command succeeded, else non-zero (CMD_RET_...)
+ */
+int cmd_call(cmd_tbl_t *cmdtp, int flag, int argc, char * const argv[])
+{
+	int result;
+
+	result = (cmdtp->cmd)(cmdtp, flag, argc, argv);
+	if (result)
+		debug("Command failed, result=%d", result);
+	return result;
+}
diff --git a/common/hush.c b/common/hush.c
index e8e24d7..6cb921d 100644
--- a/common/hush.c
+++ b/common/hush.c
@@ -1679,13 +1679,10 @@ static int run_pipe_real(struct pipe *pi)
 				rcode = x->function(child);
 #else
 				/* OK - call function to do the command */
-
-				rcode = (cmdtp->cmd)
-(cmdtp, flag,child->argc-i,&child->argv[i]);
-				if ( !cmdtp->repeatable )
+				rcode = cmd_call(cmdtp, flag,  child->argc-i,
+						 &child->argv[i]);
+				if (!cmdtp->repeatable)
 					flag_repeat = 0;
-
-
 #endif
 				child->argv-=i;  /* XXX restore hack so free() can work right */
 #ifndef __U_BOOT__
diff --git a/common/main.c b/common/main.c
index 637da2b..6a3eac2 100644
--- a/common/main.c
+++ b/common/main.c
@@ -1370,9 +1370,8 @@ static int builtin_run_command(const char *cmd, int flag)
 #endif
 
 		/* OK - call function to do the command */
-		if ((cmdtp->cmd) (cmdtp, flag, argc, argv) != 0) {
+		if (cmd_call(cmdtp, flag, argc, argv) != 0)
 			rc = -1;
-		}
 
 		repeatable &= cmdtp->repeatable;
 
diff --git a/include/command.h b/include/command.h
index 3912b80..6dc694f 100644
--- a/include/command.h
+++ b/include/command.h
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ static inline int bootm_maybe_autostart(cmd_tbl_t *cmdtp, const char *cmd)
 #endif
 extern int do_reset(cmd_tbl_t *cmdtp, int flag, int argc, char * const argv[]);
 
+int cmd_call(cmd_tbl_t *cmdtp, int flag, int argc, char * const argv[]);
+
 #endif	/* __ASSEMBLY__ */
 
 /*
@@ -150,4 +152,5 @@ extern int do_reset(cmd_tbl_t *cmdtp, int flag, int argc, char * const argv[]);
 #if defined(CONFIG_NEEDS_MANUAL_RELOC)
 void fixup_cmdtable(cmd_tbl_t *cmdtp, int size);
 #endif
+
 #endif	/* __COMMAND_H */