diff --git a/board/hisilicon/hi3518ev200/board.c b/board/hisilicon/hi3518ev200/board.c
index a6a0faf096f0..a50590354fde 100644
--- a/board/hisilicon/hi3518ev200/board.c
+++ b/board/hisilicon/hi3518ev200/board.c
@@ -92,8 +92,9 @@ int board_init(void)
 
 int misc_init_r(void)
 {
-	openipc_helper();
+	/* before the scan: a split image clears it, so bootm checks its CRC */
 	env_set("verify", "n");
+	openipc_helper();
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/board/xmedia/xm72010200/board.c b/board/xmedia/xm72010200/board.c
index 181a48ac07fd..ddac529b7e26 100755
--- a/board/xmedia/xm72010200/board.c
+++ b/board/xmedia/xm72010200/board.c
@@ -279,11 +279,12 @@ void clear_update_flag(int update_flag)
 
 int misc_init_r(void)
 {
+	/* before the scan: a split image clears it, so bootm checks its CRC */
+	env_set("verify", "n");
 	openipc_helper();
 #ifdef CONFIG_RANDOM_ETHADDR
 	random_init_r();
 #endif
-	env_set("verify", "n");
 
 #ifdef CFG_MMU_HANDLEOK
 	dcache_stop();
diff --git a/openipc/hi3516cv200_config b/openipc/hi3516cv200_config
index 35152d920513..a78c0e11fb15 100644
--- a/openipc/hi3516cv200_config
+++ b/openipc/hi3516cv200_config
@@ -38,3 +38,7 @@ CONFIG_XMEDIA_DISABLE_DOWNLOAD=y
 # CONFIG_CMD_UGZIP is not set
 CONFIG_MMC=y
 CONFIG_CMD_MMC=y
+
+# The split NOR layout: the kernel (OpenIPC/linux hisilicon-hi3516cv200)
+# divides one firmware partition from its own device tree.
+CONFIG_OPENIPC_NOR_SPLIT=y
diff --git a/openipc/hi3518ev200_config b/openipc/hi3518ev200_config
index 751e3b4c6e01..e5032f4a3d7c 100644
--- a/openipc/hi3518ev200_config
+++ b/openipc/hi3518ev200_config
@@ -38,3 +38,7 @@ CONFIG_XMEDIA_DISABLE_DOWNLOAD=y
 # CONFIG_CMD_UGZIP is not set
 CONFIG_MMC=y
 CONFIG_CMD_MMC=y
+
+# The split NOR layout: the kernel (OpenIPC/linux hisilicon-hi3516cv200)
+# divides one firmware partition from its own device tree.
+CONFIG_OPENIPC_NOR_SPLIT=y
diff --git a/openipc/xm72010200_config b/openipc/xm72010200_config
index 03c9b3841614..54b85bdffde3 100644
--- a/openipc/xm72010200_config
+++ b/openipc/xm72010200_config
@@ -8,3 +8,7 @@ CONFIG_SYS_LOAD_ADDR=0x42000000
 CONFIG_MMC=y
 CONFIG_CMD_MMC=y
 CONFIG_MMC_SDHCI=y
+
+# The split NOR layout: the kernel (OpenIPC/linux goke-gk7205v500)
+# divides one firmware partition from its own device tree.
+CONFIG_OPENIPC_NOR_SPLIT=y