diff --git a/board/atmel/sama5d3_xplained/sama5d3_xplained.c b/board/atmel/sama5d3_xplained/sama5d3_xplained.c
index 15845ef..ba7f9f2 100644
--- a/board/atmel/sama5d3_xplained/sama5d3_xplained.c
+++ b/board/atmel/sama5d3_xplained/sama5d3_xplained.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <asm/arch/at91_rstc.h>
 #include <asm/arch/gpio.h>
 #include <asm/arch/clk.h>
+#include <debug_uart.h>
 #include <spl.h>
 #include <asm/arch/atmel_mpddrc.h>
 #include <asm/arch/at91_wdt.h>
@@ -65,12 +66,22 @@ static void sama5d3_xplained_mci0_hw_init(void)
 }
 #endif
 
-int board_early_init_f(void)
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BOARD_INIT
+void board_debug_uart_init(void)
 {
 	at91_seriald_hw_init();
+}
+#endif
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_BOARD_EARLY_INIT_F
+int board_early_init_f(void)
+{
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_UART
+	debug_uart_init();
+#endif
 	return 0;
 }
+#endif
 
 int board_init(void)
 {
diff --git a/configs/sama5d3_xplained_mmc_defconfig b/configs/sama5d3_xplained_mmc_defconfig
index 921b6a2..d28d1d9 100644
--- a/configs/sama5d3_xplained_mmc_defconfig
+++ b/configs/sama5d3_xplained_mmc_defconfig
@@ -54,6 +54,12 @@ CONFIG_PINCTRL=y
 CONFIG_SPL_PINCTRL=y
 CONFIG_PINCTRL_AT91=y
 CONFIG_DM_SERIAL=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ATMEL=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BASE=0xffffee00
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_CLOCK=132000000
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BOARD_INIT=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ANNOUNCE=y
 CONFIG_ATMEL_USART=y
 CONFIG_USB=y
 CONFIG_DM_USB=y
diff --git a/configs/sama5d3_xplained_nandflash_defconfig b/configs/sama5d3_xplained_nandflash_defconfig
index 042f6a7..8cc8169 100644
--- a/configs/sama5d3_xplained_nandflash_defconfig
+++ b/configs/sama5d3_xplained_nandflash_defconfig
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@ CONFIG_PINCTRL=y
 CONFIG_SPL_PINCTRL=y
 CONFIG_PINCTRL_AT91=y
 CONFIG_DM_SERIAL=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ATMEL=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BASE=0xffffee00
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_CLOCK=132000000
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_BOARD_INIT=y
+CONFIG_DEBUG_UART_ANNOUNCE=y
 CONFIG_ATMEL_USART=y
 CONFIG_USB=y
 CONFIG_DM_USB=y