diff --git a/board/hisilicon/hi3516av200/board.c b/board/hisilicon/hi3516av200/board.c
index e6de3b13d737..4054c27c9eb0 100644
--- a/board/hisilicon/hi3516av200/board.c
+++ b/board/hisilicon/hi3516av200/board.c
@@ -90,8 +90,9 @@ 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/hisilicon/hi3519v101/board.c b/board/hisilicon/hi3519v101/board.c
index a621c4eaa929..c4e8e647a21b 100644
--- a/board/hisilicon/hi3519v101/board.c
+++ b/board/hisilicon/hi3519v101/board.c
@@ -90,8 +90,9 @@ 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/hisilicon/hi3536c/board.c b/board/hisilicon/hi3536c/board.c
index c5be3c8a0248..224aaab873c8 100644
--- a/board/hisilicon/hi3536c/board.c
+++ b/board/hisilicon/hi3536c/board.c
@@ -85,8 +85,9 @@ 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/openipc/hi3516av200_config b/openipc/hi3516av200_config
index e2b18d81d7cd..c1e85c401685 100644
--- a/openipc/hi3516av200_config
+++ b/openipc/hi3516av200_config
@@ -32,3 +32,7 @@ CONFIG_XMEDIA_DISABLE_DOWNLOAD=y
 # CONFIG_CMD_CREAD is not set
 # CONFIG_CMD_UGZIP is not set
 # CONFIG_DDR_TRAINING_V2 is not set
+
+# The split NOR layout: the kernel (OpenIPC/linux hisilicon-hi3519v101)
+# divides one firmware partition from its own device tree.
+CONFIG_OPENIPC_NOR_SPLIT=y
diff --git a/openipc/hi3519v101_config b/openipc/hi3519v101_config
index c49b591b01cf..a299c6cee724 100644
--- a/openipc/hi3519v101_config
+++ b/openipc/hi3519v101_config
@@ -32,3 +32,7 @@ CONFIG_XMEDIA_DISABLE_DOWNLOAD=y
 # CONFIG_CMD_CREAD is not set
 # CONFIG_CMD_UGZIP is not set
 # CONFIG_DDR_TRAINING_V2 is not set
+
+# The split NOR layout: the kernel (OpenIPC/linux hisilicon-hi3519v101)
+# divides one firmware partition from its own device tree.
+CONFIG_OPENIPC_NOR_SPLIT=y
diff --git a/openipc/hi3536cv100_config b/openipc/hi3536cv100_config
index 3dc5a38d4bdb..a6160a2ac8bb 100644
--- a/openipc/hi3536cv100_config
+++ b/openipc/hi3536cv100_config
@@ -37,3 +37,7 @@ CONFIG_XMEDIA_DISABLE_DOWNLOAD=y
 # CONFIG_CMD_CREAD is not set
 # CONFIG_CMD_UGZIP is not set
 # CONFIG_DDR_TRAINING_V2 is not set
+
+# The split NOR layout: the kernel (OpenIPC/linux hisilicon-hi3536cv100)
+# divides one firmware partition from its own device tree.
+CONFIG_OPENIPC_NOR_SPLIT=y