diff --git a/arch/powerpc/cpu/mpc8xxx/ddr/options.c b/arch/powerpc/cpu/mpc8xxx/ddr/options.c
index c641e85..0e7097b 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/cpu/mpc8xxx/ddr/options.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/cpu/mpc8xxx/ddr/options.c
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@
 
 #include "ddr.h"
 
+/*
+ * Use our own stack based buffer before relocation to allow accessing longer
+ * hwconfig strings that might be in the environment before we've relocated.
+ * This is pretty fragile on both the use of stack and if the buffer is big
+ * enough. However we will get a warning from getenv_f for the later.
+ */
+#define HWCONFIG_BUFFER_SIZE	128
+
 /* Board-specific functions defined in each board's ddr.c */
 extern void fsl_ddr_board_options(memctl_options_t *popts,
 		dimm_params_t *pdimm,
@@ -24,6 +32,15 @@ unsigned int populate_memctl_options(int all_DIMMs_registered,
 			unsigned int ctrl_num)
 {
 	unsigned int i;
+	char buffer[HWCONFIG_BUFFER_SIZE];
+	char *buf = NULL;
+
+	/*
+	 * Extract hwconfig from environment since we have not properly setup
+	 * the environment but need it for ddr config params
+	 */
+	if (getenv_f("hwconfig", buffer, sizeof(buffer)) > 0)
+		buf = buffer;
 
 	/* Chip select options. */
 
@@ -221,7 +238,7 @@ unsigned int populate_memctl_options(int all_DIMMs_registered,
 	 * should be a subset of the requested configuration.
 	 */
 #if (CONFIG_NUM_DDR_CONTROLLERS > 1)
-	if (hwconfig_sub("fsl_ddr", "ctlr_intlv")) {
+	if (hwconfig_sub_f("fsl_ddr", "ctlr_intlv", buf)) {
 		if (pdimm[0].n_ranks == 0) {
 			printf("There is no rank on CS0 for controller %d. Because only"
 				" rank on CS0 and ranks chip-select interleaved with CS0"
@@ -234,19 +251,25 @@ unsigned int populate_memctl_options(int all_DIMMs_registered,
 			 * test null first. if CONFIG_HWCONFIG is not defined
 			 * hwconfig_arg_cmp returns non-zero
 			 */
-			if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp("fsl_ddr", "ctlr_intlv", "null")) {
+			if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f("fsl_ddr", "ctlr_intlv",
+						    "null", buf)) {
 				popts->memctl_interleaving = 0;
 				debug("memory controller interleaving disabled.\n");
-			} else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp("fsl_ddr", "ctlr_intlv", "cacheline"))
+			} else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f("fsl_ddr",
+							 "ctlr_intlv",
+							 "cacheline", buf))
 				popts->memctl_interleaving_mode =
 					FSL_DDR_CACHE_LINE_INTERLEAVING;
-			else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp("fsl_ddr", "ctlr_intlv", "page"))
+			else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f("fsl_ddr", "ctlr_intlv",
+						       "page", buf))
 				popts->memctl_interleaving_mode =
 					FSL_DDR_PAGE_INTERLEAVING;
-			else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp("fsl_ddr", "ctlr_intlv", "bank"))
+			else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f("fsl_ddr", "ctlr_intlv",
+						       "bank", buf))
 				popts->memctl_interleaving_mode =
 					FSL_DDR_BANK_INTERLEAVING;
-			else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp("fsl_ddr", "ctlr_intlv", "superbank"))
+			else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f("fsl_ddr", "ctlr_intlv",
+						       "superbank", buf))
 				popts->memctl_interleaving_mode =
 					FSL_DDR_SUPERBANK_INTERLEAVING;
 			else {
@@ -256,19 +279,24 @@ unsigned int populate_memctl_options(int all_DIMMs_registered,
 		}
 	}
 #endif
-	if ((hwconfig_sub("fsl_ddr", "bank_intlv")) &&
+	if ((hwconfig_sub_f("fsl_ddr", "bank_intlv", buf)) &&
 		(CONFIG_CHIP_SELECTS_PER_CTRL > 1)) {
 		/* test null first. if CONFIG_HWCONFIG is not defined,
-		 * hwconfig_arg_cmp returns non-zero */
-		if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp("fsl_ddr", "bank_intlv", "null"))
+		 * hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f returns non-zero */
+		if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f("fsl_ddr", "bank_intlv",
+					    "null", buf))
 			debug("bank interleaving disabled.\n");
-		else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp("fsl_ddr", "bank_intlv", "cs0_cs1"))
+		else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f("fsl_ddr", "bank_intlv",
+						 "cs0_cs1", buf))
 			popts->ba_intlv_ctl = FSL_DDR_CS0_CS1;
-		else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp("fsl_ddr", "bank_intlv", "cs2_cs3"))
+		else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f("fsl_ddr", "bank_intlv",
+						 "cs2_cs3", buf))
 			popts->ba_intlv_ctl = FSL_DDR_CS2_CS3;
-		else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp("fsl_ddr", "bank_intlv", "cs0_cs1_and_cs2_cs3"))
+		else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f("fsl_ddr", "bank_intlv",
+						 "cs0_cs1_and_cs2_cs3", buf))
 			popts->ba_intlv_ctl = FSL_DDR_CS0_CS1_AND_CS2_CS3;
-		else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp("fsl_ddr", "bank_intlv", "cs0_cs1_cs2_cs3"))
+		else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f("fsl_ddr", "bank_intlv",
+						 "cs0_cs1_cs2_cs3", buf))
 			popts->ba_intlv_ctl = FSL_DDR_CS0_CS1_CS2_CS3;
 		else
 			printf("hwconfig has unrecognized parameter for bank_intlv.\n");
@@ -342,10 +370,11 @@ unsigned int populate_memctl_options(int all_DIMMs_registered,
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (hwconfig_sub("fsl_ddr", "addr_hash")) {
-		if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp("fsl_ddr", "addr_hash", "null"))
+	if (hwconfig_sub_f("fsl_ddr", "addr_hash", buf)) {
+		if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f("fsl_ddr", "addr_hash", "null", buf))
 			popts->addr_hash = 0;
-		else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp("fsl_ddr", "addr_hash", "true"))
+		else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f("fsl_ddr", "addr_hash",
+					       "true", buf))
 			popts->addr_hash = 1;
 	}
 
@@ -393,11 +422,22 @@ int fsl_use_spd(void)
 	int use_spd = 0;
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_DDR_SPD
+	char buffer[HWCONFIG_BUFFER_SIZE];
+	char *buf = NULL;
+
+	/*
+	 * Extract hwconfig from environment since we have not properly setup
+	 * the environment but need it for ddr config params
+	 */
+	if (getenv_f("hwconfig", buffer, sizeof(buffer)) > 0)
+		buf = buffer;
+
 	/* if hwconfig is not enabled, or "sdram" is not defined, use spd */
-	if (hwconfig_sub("fsl_ddr", "sdram")) {
-		if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp("fsl_ddr", "sdram", "spd"))
+	if (hwconfig_sub_f("fsl_ddr", "sdram", buf)) {
+		if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f("fsl_ddr", "sdram", "spd", buf))
 			use_spd = 1;
-		else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp("fsl_ddr", "sdram", "fixed"))
+		else if (hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f("fsl_ddr", "sdram",
+					       "fixed", buf))
 			use_spd = 0;
 		else
 			use_spd = 1;
diff --git a/common/hwconfig.c b/common/hwconfig.c
index 193863a..f909fa5 100644
--- a/common/hwconfig.c
+++ b/common/hwconfig.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
  * An inteface for configuring a hardware via u-boot environment.
  *
  * Copyright (c) 2009  MontaVista Software, Inc.
+ * Copyright 2011 Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
  *
  * Author: Anton Vorontsov <avorontsov@ru.mvista.com>
  *
@@ -71,25 +72,21 @@ next:
 const char cpu_hwconfig[] __attribute__((weak)) = "";
 const char board_hwconfig[] __attribute__((weak)) = "";
 
-#define HWCONFIG_PRE_RELOC_BUF_SIZE	128
-
-static const char *__hwconfig(const char *opt, size_t *arglen)
+static const char *__hwconfig(const char *opt, size_t *arglen, char *buf)
 {
 	const char *env_hwconfig = NULL, *ret;
-	char buf[HWCONFIG_PRE_RELOC_BUF_SIZE];
 
-	if (gd->flags & GD_FLG_ENV_READY) {
-		env_hwconfig = getenv("hwconfig");
+	/* if we are passed a buffer use it, otherwise try the environment */
+	if (!buf) {
+		if (gd->flags & GD_FLG_ENV_READY) {
+			env_hwconfig = getenv("hwconfig");
+		} else {
+			printf("WARNING: Calling __hwconfig without a buffer "
+				"and before environment is ready\n");
+			return NULL;
+		}
 	} else {
-		/*
-		 * Use our own on stack based buffer before relocation to allow
-		 * accessing longer hwconfig strings that might be in the
-		 * environment before we've relocated.  This is pretty fragile
-		 * on both the use of stack and if the buffer is big enough.
-		 * However we will get a warning from getenv_f for the later.
-		 */
-		if ((getenv_f("hwconfig", buf, sizeof(buf))) > 0)
-			env_hwconfig = buf;
+		env_hwconfig = buf;
 	}
 
 	if (env_hwconfig) {
@@ -109,8 +106,9 @@ static const char *__hwconfig(const char *opt, size_t *arglen)
 }
 
 /*
- * hwconfig - query if a particular hwconfig option is specified
+ * hwconfig_f - query if a particular hwconfig option is specified
  * @opt:	a string representing an option
+ * @buf:	if non-NULL use this buffer to parse, otherwise try env
  *
  * This call can be used to find out whether U-Boot should configure
  * a particular hardware option.
@@ -127,34 +125,36 @@ static const char *__hwconfig(const char *opt, size_t *arglen)
  * that the board file only calls things that are actually used, so
  * hwconfig() will always return true result.
  */
-int hwconfig(const char *opt)
+int hwconfig_f(const char *opt, char *buf)
 {
-	return !!__hwconfig(opt, NULL);
+	return !!__hwconfig(opt, NULL, buf);
 }
 
 /*
- * hwconfig_arg - get hwconfig option's argument
+ * hwconfig_arg_f - get hwconfig option's argument
  * @opt:	a string representing an option
  * @arglen:	a pointer to an allocated size_t variable
+ * @buf:	if non-NULL use this buffer to parse, otherwise try env
  *
- * Unlike hwconfig() function, this function returns a pointer to the
+ * Unlike hwconfig_f() function, this function returns a pointer to the
  * start of the hwconfig arguments, if option is not found or it has
  * no specified arguments, the function returns NULL pointer.
  *
  * If CONFIG_HWCONFIG is undefined, the function returns "", and
  * arglen is set to 0.
  */
-const char *hwconfig_arg(const char *opt, size_t *arglen)
+const char *hwconfig_arg_f(const char *opt, size_t *arglen, char *buf)
 {
-	return __hwconfig(opt, arglen);
+	return __hwconfig(opt, arglen, buf);
 }
 
 /*
- * hwconfig_arg_cmp - compare hwconfig option's argument
+ * hwconfig_arg_cmp_f - compare hwconfig option's argument
  * @opt:	a string representing an option
  * @arg:	a string for comparing an option's argument
+ * @buf:	if non-NULL use this buffer to parse, otherwise try env
  *
- * This call is similar to hwconfig_arg, but instead of returning
+ * This call is similar to hwconfig_arg_f, but instead of returning
  * hwconfig argument and its length, it is comparing it to @arg.
  *
  * Returns non-zero value if @arg matches, 0 otherwise.
@@ -162,12 +162,12 @@ const char *hwconfig_arg(const char *opt, size_t *arglen)
  * If CONFIG_HWCONFIG is undefined, the function returns a non-zero
  * value, i.e. the argument matches.
  */
-int hwconfig_arg_cmp(const char *opt, const char *arg)
+int hwconfig_arg_cmp_f(const char *opt, const char *arg, char *buf)
 {
 	const char *argstr;
 	size_t arglen;
 
-	argstr = hwconfig_arg(opt, &arglen);
+	argstr = hwconfig_arg_f(opt, &arglen, buf);
 	if (!argstr || arglen != strlen(arg))
 		return 0;
 
@@ -175,63 +175,67 @@ int hwconfig_arg_cmp(const char *opt, const char *arg)
 }
 
 /*
- * hwconfig_sub - query if a particular hwconfig sub-option is specified
+ * hwconfig_sub_f - query if a particular hwconfig sub-option is specified
  * @opt:	a string representing an option
  * @subopt:	a string representing a sub-option
+ * @buf:	if non-NULL use this buffer to parse, otherwise try env
  *
- * This call is similar to hwconfig(), except that it takes additional
+ * This call is similar to hwconfig_f(), except that it takes additional
  * argument @subopt. In this example:
  * 	"dr_usb:mode=peripheral"
  * "dr_usb" is an option, "mode" is a sub-option, and "peripheral" is its
  * argument.
  */
-int hwconfig_sub(const char *opt, const char *subopt)
+int hwconfig_sub_f(const char *opt, const char *subopt, char *buf)
 {
 	size_t arglen;
 	const char *arg;
 
-	arg = __hwconfig(opt, &arglen);
+	arg = __hwconfig(opt, &arglen, buf);
 	if (!arg)
 		return 0;
 	return !!hwconfig_parse(arg, arglen, subopt, ",;", '=', NULL);
 }
 
 /*
- * hwconfig_subarg - get hwconfig sub-option's argument
+ * hwconfig_subarg_f - get hwconfig sub-option's argument
  * @opt:	a string representing an option
  * @subopt:	a string representing a sub-option
  * @subarglen:	a pointer to an allocated size_t variable
+ * @buf:	if non-NULL use this buffer to parse, otherwise try env
  *
- * This call is similar to hwconfig_arg(), except that it takes an additional
- * argument @subopt, and so works with sub-options.
+ * This call is similar to hwconfig_arg_f(), except that it takes an
+ * additional argument @subopt, and so works with sub-options.
  */
-const char *hwconfig_subarg(const char *opt, const char *subopt,
-			    size_t *subarglen)
+const char *hwconfig_subarg_f(const char *opt, const char *subopt,
+			      size_t *subarglen, char *buf)
 {
 	size_t arglen;
 	const char *arg;
 
-	arg = __hwconfig(opt, &arglen);
+	arg = __hwconfig(opt, &arglen, buf);
 	if (!arg)
 		return NULL;
 	return hwconfig_parse(arg, arglen, subopt, ",;", '=', subarglen);
 }
 
 /*
- * hwconfig_arg_cmp - compare hwconfig sub-option's argument
+ * hwconfig_arg_cmp_f - compare hwconfig sub-option's argument
  * @opt:	a string representing an option
  * @subopt:	a string representing a sub-option
  * @subarg:	a string for comparing an sub-option's argument
+ * @buf:	if non-NULL use this buffer to parse, otherwise try env
  *
- * This call is similar to hwconfig_arg_cmp, except that it takes an additional
- * argument @subopt, and so works with sub-options.
+ * This call is similar to hwconfig_arg_cmp_f, except that it takes an
+ * additional argument @subopt, and so works with sub-options.
  */
-int hwconfig_subarg_cmp(const char *opt, const char *subopt, const char *subarg)
+int hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f(const char *opt, const char *subopt,
+			  const char *subarg, char *buf)
 {
 	const char *argstr;
 	size_t arglen;
 
-	argstr = hwconfig_subarg(opt, subopt, &arglen);
+	argstr = hwconfig_subarg_f(opt, subopt, &arglen, buf);
 	if (!argstr || arglen != strlen(subarg))
 		return 0;
 
diff --git a/include/hwconfig.h b/include/hwconfig.h
index d517f78..a037ed8 100644
--- a/include/hwconfig.h
+++ b/include/hwconfig.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
  * An inteface for configuring a hardware via u-boot environment.
  *
  * Copyright (c) 2009  MontaVista Software, Inc.
+ * Copyright 2011 Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
  *
  * Author: Anton Vorontsov <avorontsov@ru.mvista.com>
  *
@@ -19,51 +20,84 @@
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_HWCONFIG
 
-extern int hwconfig(const char *opt);
-extern const char *hwconfig_arg(const char *opt, size_t *arglen);
-extern int hwconfig_arg_cmp(const char *opt, const char *arg);
-extern int hwconfig_sub(const char *opt, const char *subopt);
-extern const char *hwconfig_subarg(const char *opt, const char *subopt,
-				   size_t *subarglen);
-extern int hwconfig_subarg_cmp(const char *opt, const char *subopt,
-			       const char *subarg);
-
+extern int hwconfig_f(const char *opt, char *buf);
+extern const char *hwconfig_arg_f(const char *opt, size_t *arglen, char *buf);
+extern int hwconfig_arg_cmp_f(const char *opt, const char *arg, char *buf);
+extern int hwconfig_sub_f(const char *opt, const char *subopt, char *buf);
+extern const char *hwconfig_subarg_f(const char *opt, const char *subopt,
+				     size_t *subarglen, char *buf);
+extern int hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f(const char *opt, const char *subopt,
+				 const char *subarg, char *buf);
 #else
 
-static inline int hwconfig(const char *opt)
+static inline int hwconfig_f(const char *opt, char *buf)
 {
 	return -ENOSYS;
 }
 
-static inline const char *hwconfig_arg(const char *opt, size_t *arglen)
+static inline const char *hwconfig_arg_f(const char *opt, size_t *arglen,
+					 char *buf)
 {
 	*arglen = 0;
 	return "";
 }
 
-static inline int hwconfig_arg_cmp(const char *opt, const char *arg)
+static inline int hwconfig_arg_cmp_f(const char *opt, const char *arg,
+				     char *buf)
 {
 	return -ENOSYS;
 }
 
-static inline int hwconfig_sub(const char *opt, const char *subopt)
+static inline int hwconfig_sub_f(const char *opt, const char *subopt, char *buf)
 {
 	return -ENOSYS;
 }
 
-static inline const char *hwconfig_subarg(const char *opt, const char *subopt,
-					  size_t *subarglen)
+static inline const char *hwconfig_subarg_f(const char *opt, const char *subopt,
+					    size_t *subarglen, char *buf)
 {
 	*subarglen = 0;
 	return "";
 }
 
-static inline int hwconfig_subarg_cmp(const char *opt, const char *subopt,
-				      const char *subarg)
+static inline int hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f(const char *opt, const char *subopt,
+					const char *subarg, char *buf)
 {
 	return -ENOSYS;
 }
 
 #endif /* CONFIG_HWCONFIG */
 
+static inline int hwconfig(const char *opt)
+{
+	return hwconfig_f(opt, NULL);
+}
+
+static inline const char *hwconfig_arg(const char *opt, size_t *arglen)
+{
+	return hwconfig_arg_f(opt, arglen, NULL);
+}
+
+static inline int hwconfig_arg_cmp(const char *opt, const char *arg)
+{
+	return hwconfig_arg_cmp_f(opt, arg, NULL);
+}
+
+static inline int hwconfig_sub(const char *opt, const char *subopt)
+{
+	return hwconfig_sub_f(opt, subopt, NULL);
+}
+
+static inline const char *hwconfig_subarg(const char *opt, const char *subopt,
+					  size_t *subarglen)
+{
+	return hwconfig_subarg_f(opt, subopt, subarglen, NULL);
+}
+
+static inline int hwconfig_subarg_cmp(const char *opt, const char *subopt,
+				      const char *subarg)
+{
+	return hwconfig_subarg_cmp_f(opt, subopt, subarg, NULL);
+}
+
 #endif /* _HWCONFIG_H */
