diff --git a/common/openipc.c b/common/openipc.c
index 96370e4515d5..e0d35e92d456 100644
--- a/common/openipc.c
+++ b/common/openipc.c
@@ -693,10 +693,62 @@ static int nor_split_layout(struct spi_flash *flash, ulong kernel_off, ulong roo
     return 0;
   if (!kernel_off || !rootfs_off ||
       spi_flash_read(flash, kernel_off, sizeof(hdr), &hdr) ||
-      !image_check_magic(&hdr))
+      !image_check_magic(&hdr) || !image_check_hcrc(&hdr))
     return 0;
   return rootfs_off == kernel_off + ALIGN(image_get_image_size(&hdr), 0x10000);
 }
+
+/*
+ * Whether the split layout's kernel is whole: its header and its data CRC,
+ * read back from the flash. The scan clears bootfail for a split image, and
+ * a kernel with a sound header but a damaged payload would then fail bootm
+ * with nothing asking for recovery -- the boot-limit fallback retries the
+ * same image. Checked here, it is handed to recovery like a missing one.
+ * Without the memory to check, the kernel is taken as it is; bootm still
+ * checks it.
+ */
+static int nor_split_kernel_ok(struct spi_flash *flash, ulong kernel_off)
+{
+  const ulong chunk = 0x10000;
+  image_header_t hdr;
+  ulong len, off, n;
+  u32 crc = 0;
+  u8 *buf;
+  int ok = 1;
+
+  if (spi_flash_read(flash, kernel_off, sizeof(hdr), &hdr) ||
+      !image_check_hcrc(&hdr))
+    return 0;
+  len = image_get_data_size(&hdr);
+  if (kernel_off + sizeof(hdr) > flash->size ||
+      len > flash->size - kernel_off - sizeof(hdr))
+    return 0;
+  buf = malloc_cache_aligned(chunk);
+  if (!buf)
+    return 1;
+  for (off = 0; ok && off < len; off += n) {
+    n = min(len - off, chunk);
+    if (spi_flash_read(flash, kernel_off + sizeof(hdr) + off, n, buf))
+      ok = 0;
+    else
+      crc = crc32(crc, buf, n);
+  }
+  free(buf);
+  return ok && crc == image_get_dcrc(&hdr);
+}
+
+/*
+ * A uImage whose header fails its CRC: bootm refuses it whatever verify
+ * says, so it boots nothing in either layout. Its size field cannot be
+ * trusted either, which is why nor_split_layout does not take it as split.
+ */
+static int nor_split_header_bad(struct spi_flash *flash, ulong kernel_off)
+{
+  image_header_t hdr;
+
+  return kernel_off && !spi_flash_read(flash, kernel_off, sizeof(hdr), &hdr) &&
+         image_check_magic(&hdr) && !image_check_hcrc(&hdr);
+}
 #endif
 
 int firmware_scan(void) {
@@ -752,6 +804,7 @@ int firmware_scan(void) {
   ulong rootfs_off = 0;
   uint64_t kernel_size = 0;
   uint64_t rootfs_size = 0;
+  int bad_header = 0;
 
   printf("Automatic flash layout detection...\n");
 
@@ -822,6 +875,7 @@ int firmware_scan(void) {
     char str[32], mtds[128], mtdparts[160];
     const char *mtdids = env_get("mtdids");
     ulong kern_slot, root_slot;
+    int kernel_ok = nor_split_kernel_ok(flash, kernel_off);
 
     /*
      * kernsize is what loadkernel reads, and also what uk erases; rootaddr
@@ -865,9 +919,15 @@ int firmware_scan(void) {
      * bootloader must not skip it. RAM only, like the rest of the scan. */
     env_set("verify", NULL);
     nor_split_bootargs();
-    env_set("bootfail", NULL);
+    if (kernel_ok) {
+      env_set("bootfail", NULL);
+    } else {
+      printf("Firmware is absent/corrupt (kernel at 0x%lx fails its CRC)\n", kernel_off);
+      env_set("bootfail", "1");
+    }
     return 0;
   }
+  bad_header = nor_split_header_bad(flash, kernel_off);
 #endif
 
   spi_flash_free(flash);
@@ -929,7 +989,10 @@ int firmware_scan(void) {
 #endif
   }
 
-  if (kernel_off && rootfs_off) {
+  if (bad_header) {
+    printf("Firmware is absent/corrupt (kernel header at 0x%lx fails its CRC)\n", kernel_off);
+    env_set("bootfail", "1");
+  } else if (kernel_off && rootfs_off) {
     env_set("bootfail", NULL);
   } else {
     printf("Firmware is absent/corrupt (kernel=0x%lx, rootfs=0x%lx)\n", kernel_off, rootfs_off);