diff --git a/include/common.h b/include/common.h
index 31b6cd1..303d30d 100644
--- a/include/common.h
+++ b/include/common.h
@@ -236,6 +236,7 @@ do { \
 long long util_get_bytes(const char *str);
 void util_print_bytes(long long bytes, int bracket);
 int util_srand(void);
+char *mtd_find_dev_node(const char *id);
 
 /*
  * The following helpers are here to avoid compiler complaints about unchecked
diff --git a/lib/common.c b/lib/common.c
index 8041878..e278593 100644
--- a/lib/common.c
+++ b/lib/common.c
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include "common.h"
+#include "libmtd.h"
+
+#define MTD_DEV_PATT  "/dev/mtd%d"
 
 /**
  * get_multiplier - convert size specifier to an integer multiplier.
@@ -162,3 +165,46 @@ int util_srand(void)
 	srand(seed);
 	return 0;
 }
+
+/**
+ * mtd_find_dev_node - Find the device node for an MTD
+ * @id:  Identifier for the MTD. this can be the device node itself, or
+ *       "mtd:<name>" to look up MTD by name
+ *
+ * This is a helper function to convert MTD device identifiers into their
+ * device node.
+ *
+ * Returns a pointer to a string containing the device node that must be
+ * free'd, or NULL on failure.
+ */
+char *mtd_find_dev_node(const char *id)
+{
+	struct mtd_dev_info info;
+	struct libmtd_t *lib_mtd;
+	char *node;
+	int ret;
+
+	if (strncmp(id, "mtd:", 4)) {
+		/* Assume @id is the device node */
+		return strdup(id);
+	}
+
+	/* Search for MTD matching name */
+	id += 4;
+
+	lib_mtd = libmtd_open();
+	if (!lib_mtd)
+		return NULL;
+
+	ret = mtd_get_dev_info2(lib_mtd, id, &info);
+	libmtd_close(lib_mtd);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		return NULL;
+
+	node = malloc(strlen(MTD_DEV_PATT) + 20);
+	if (!node)
+		return NULL;
+
+	sprintf(node, MTD_DEV_PATT, info.mtd_num);
+	return node;
+}
diff --git a/misc-utils/Makemodule.am b/misc-utils/Makemodule.am
index bc69b1c..1ce1a68 100644
--- a/misc-utils/Makemodule.am
+++ b/misc-utils/Makemodule.am
@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@ ftl_check_SOURCES = misc-utils/ftl_check.c include/mtd_swab.h
 ftl_check_SOURCES += include/mtd/ftl-user.h
 
 mtd_debug_SOURCES = misc-utils/mtd_debug.c
+mtd_debug_LDADD = libmtd.a
 
 mtdpart_SOURCES = misc-utils/mtdpart.c
+mtdpart_LDADD = libmtd.a
 
 docfdisk_SOURCES = misc-utils/docfdisk.c include/mtd_swab.h
 docfdisk_SOURCES += include/mtd/inftl-user.h include/mtd/ftl-user.h
@@ -23,8 +25,10 @@ fectest_SOURCES = misc-utils/fectest.c misc-utils/mcast_image.h
 fectest_LDADD = libmtd.a
 
 flash_lock_SOURCES = misc-utils/flash_lock.c
+flash_lock_LDADD = libmtd.a
 
 flash_unlock_SOURCES = misc-utils/flash_unlock.c
+flash_unlock_LDADD = libmtd.a
 
 flash_otp_info_SOURCES = misc-utils/flash_otp_info.c
 
@@ -37,6 +41,7 @@ flash_otp_erase_SOURCES = misc-utils/flash_otp_erase.c
 flash_otp_write_SOURCES = misc-utils/flash_otp_write.c
 
 flashcp_SOURCES = misc-utils/flashcp.c
+flashcp_LDADD = libmtd.a
 
 flash_erase_SOURCES = misc-utils/flash_erase.c
 flash_erase_LDADD = libmtd.a
diff --git a/misc-utils/flash_erase.c b/misc-utils/flash_erase.c
index 49a880f..000f94a 100644
--- a/misc-utils/flash_erase.c
+++ b/misc-utils/flash_erase.c
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ static void display_help (void)
 			"      --silent      same as --quiet\n"
 			"      --help        display this help and exit\n"
 			"      --version     output version information and exit\n",
+			"\n"
+			"  MTD_DEVICE  MTD device node or 'mtd:<name>'\n"
 			PROGRAM_NAME);
 }
 
@@ -169,7 +171,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	}
 	switch (argc - optind) {
 	case 3:
-		mtd_device = argv[optind];
+		mtd_device = mtd_find_dev_node(argv[optind]);
+		if (!mtd_device)
+			return errmsg("Can't find MTD device %s", argv[optind]);
 		start = simple_strtoull(argv[optind + 1], &error);
 		eb_cnt = simple_strtoul(argv[optind + 2], &error);
 		break;
diff --git a/misc-utils/flash_unlock.c b/misc-utils/flash_unlock.c
index fbbfa51..fa5decb 100644
--- a/misc-utils/flash_unlock.c
+++ b/misc-utils/flash_unlock.c
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ static NORETURN void usage(int status)
 		" -l         --lock              Lock a region of flash\n"
 		" -u         --unlock            Unlock a region of flash\n"
 		"\n"
+		" <mtd device>  MTD device node or 'mtd:<name>'\n"
+		"\n"
 		"If offset is not specified, it defaults to 0.\n"
 		"If block count is not specified, it defaults to all blocks.\n"
 		"A block count of -1 means all blocks.\n",
@@ -125,7 +127,12 @@ static void process_args(int argc, char *argv[])
 	}
 
 	/* First non-option argument */
-	dev = argv[arg_idx++];
+	dev = mtd_find_dev_node(argv[arg_idx]);
+	if (!dev) {
+		errmsg("MTD device not found %s", argv[arg_idx]);
+		usage(EXIT_FAILURE);
+	}
+	arg_idx++;
 
 	/* Second non-option argument */
 	if (arg_idx < argc)
diff --git a/misc-utils/flashcp.c b/misc-utils/flashcp.c
index 2e8d4c1..1411b2d 100644
--- a/misc-utils/flashcp.c
+++ b/misc-utils/flashcp.c
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ static NORETURN void showusage(bool error)
 			"   -A | --erase-all Erases the whole device regardless of the image size\n"
 			"   -V | --version   Show version information and exit\n"
 			"   <filename>       File which you want to copy to flash\n"
-			"   <device>         Flash device to write to (e.g. /dev/mtd0, /dev/mtd1, etc.)\n"
+			"   <device>         Flash device node or 'mtd:<name>' to write to (e.g. /dev/mtd0, /dev/mtd1, mtd:data, etc.)\n"
 			"\n",
 			PROGRAM_NAME);
 
@@ -275,7 +275,10 @@ int main (int argc,char *argv[])
 		DEBUG("Got filename: %s\n",filename);
 
 		flags |= FLAG_DEVICE;
-		device = argv[optind+1];
+		device = mtd_find_dev_node(argv[optind+1]);
+		if (!device)
+			log_failure("Failed to find device %s\n", argv[optind+1]);
+
 		DEBUG("Got device: %s\n",device);
 	}
 
diff --git a/misc-utils/mtd_debug.c b/misc-utils/mtd_debug.c
index c0b7109..abee5e3 100644
--- a/misc-utils/mtd_debug.c
+++ b/misc-utils/mtd_debug.c
@@ -348,6 +348,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
 	int err = 0, fd;
 	int open_flag;
+	char *dev;
 
 	enum {
 		OPT_INFO,
@@ -369,8 +370,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		showusage();
 
 	/* open device */
+	dev = mtd_find_dev_node(argv[2]);
+	if (!dev)
+		errmsg_die("Failed to find MTD device %s", argv[2]);
+
 	open_flag = (option == OPT_INFO || option == OPT_READ) ? O_RDONLY : O_RDWR;
-	if ((fd = open(argv[2], O_SYNC | open_flag)) < 0)
+	if ((fd = open(dev, O_SYNC | open_flag)) < 0)
 		errmsg_die("open()");
 
 	switch (option) {
diff --git a/misc-utils/mtdpart.c b/misc-utils/mtdpart.c
index c8cd79b..a341148 100644
--- a/misc-utils/mtdpart.c
+++ b/misc-utils/mtdpart.c
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ static void display_help(int status)
 "  -h, --help    Display this help and exit\n"
 "  -V, --version Output version information and exit\n"
 "\n"
+"  <MTD_DEVICE>  MTD device node or 'mtd:<name>'\n"
+"\n"
 "START location and SIZE of the partition are in bytes. They should align on\n"
 "eraseblock size. If SIZE is 0 the partition will go to end of MTD device.\n",
 	PROGRAM_NAME
@@ -106,7 +108,10 @@ static void process_options(int argc, char * const argv[])
 		display_help(EXIT_FAILURE);
 
 	const char *s_command = argv[optind++];
-	mtddev = argv[optind++];
+	mtddev = mtd_find_dev_node(argv[optind]);
+	if (!mtddev)
+		errmsg_die("MTD device not found %s", argv[optind]);
+	optind++;
 
 	if (strcmp(s_command, "del") == 0 && (argc - optind) == 1) {
 		const char *s_part_no = argv[optind++];
diff --git a/tests/mtd-tests/flash_readtest.c b/tests/mtd-tests/flash_readtest.c
index b4f4e10..519ff89 100644
--- a/tests/mtd-tests/flash_readtest.c
+++ b/tests/mtd-tests/flash_readtest.c
@@ -125,10 +125,14 @@ static void process_options(int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (optind < argc)
-		mtddev = argv[optind++];
-	else
+	if (optind < argc) {
+		mtddev = mtd_find_dev_node(argv[optind]);
+		if (!mtddev)
+			errmsg_die("Can't find MTD device %s", argv[optind]);
+		optind++;
+	} else {
 		errmsg_die("No device specified!\n");
+	}
 
 	if (optind < argc)
 		usage(EXIT_FAILURE);
diff --git a/tests/mtd-tests/flash_speed.c b/tests/mtd-tests/flash_speed.c
index 0f82047..5721dfb 100644
--- a/tests/mtd-tests/flash_speed.c
+++ b/tests/mtd-tests/flash_speed.c
@@ -141,10 +141,14 @@ static void process_options(int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (optind < argc)
-		mtddev = argv[optind++];
-	else
+	if (optind < argc) {
+		mtddev = mtd_find_dev_node(argv[optind]);
+		if (!mtddev)
+			errmsg_die("Can't find MTD device %s", argv[optind]);
+		optind++;
+	} else {
 		errmsg_die("No device specified!\n");
+	}
 
 	if (optind < argc)
 		usage(EXIT_FAILURE);
diff --git a/tests/mtd-tests/flash_stress.c b/tests/mtd-tests/flash_stress.c
index b7a0fec..da39e14 100644
--- a/tests/mtd-tests/flash_stress.c
+++ b/tests/mtd-tests/flash_stress.c
@@ -126,10 +126,14 @@ static void process_options(int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (optind < argc)
-		mtddev = argv[optind++];
-	else
+	if (optind < argc) {
+		mtddev = mtd_find_dev_node(argv[optind]);
+		if (!mtddev)
+			errmsg_die("Can't find MTD device %s", argv[optind]);
+		optind++;
+	} else {
 		errmsg_die("No device specified!\n");
+	}
 
 	if (optind < argc)
 		usage(EXIT_FAILURE);
diff --git a/tests/mtd-tests/flash_torture.c b/tests/mtd-tests/flash_torture.c
index 5aad8e0..6363f9e 100644
--- a/tests/mtd-tests/flash_torture.c
+++ b/tests/mtd-tests/flash_torture.c
@@ -144,10 +144,14 @@ static void process_options(int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (optind < argc)
-		mtddev = argv[optind++];
-	else
+	if (optind < argc) {
+		mtddev = mtd_find_dev_node(argv[optind]);
+		if (!mtddev)
+			errmsg_die("Can't find MTD device %s", argv[optind]);
+		optind++;
+	} else {
 		errmsg_die("No device specified!\n");
+	}
 
 	if (optind < argc)
 		usage(EXIT_FAILURE);
diff --git a/ubi-utils/mtdinfo.c b/ubi-utils/mtdinfo.c
index 8bd0fc8..154872d 100644
--- a/ubi-utils/mtdinfo.c
+++ b/ubi-utils/mtdinfo.c
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ static void display_help(void)
 	printf(
 		"%1$s version %2$s - a tool to print MTD information.\n"
 		"\n"
-		"Usage: %1$s <MTD node file path> [--map | -M] [--ubi-info | -u]\n"
+		"Usage: %1$s <mtd device> [--map | -M] [--ubi-info | -u]\n"
 		"       %1$s --all [--ubi-info | -u]\n"
 		"       %1$s [--help | --version]\n"
 		"\n"
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ static void display_help(void)
 		"-h, --help                      print help message\n"
 		"-V, --version                   print program version\n"
 		"\n"
+		"<mtd device>  MTD device node or 'mtd:<name>'\n"
+		"\n"
 		"Examples:\n"
 		"  %1$s /dev/mtd0             print information MTD device /dev/mtd0\n"
 		"  %1$s /dev/mtd0 -u          print information MTD device /dev/mtd0\n"
@@ -124,10 +126,13 @@ static int parse_opt(int argc, char * const argv[])
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (optind == argc - 1)
-		args.node = argv[optind];
-	else if (optind < argc)
+	if (optind == argc - 1) {
+		args.node = mtd_find_dev_node(argv[optind]);
+		if (!args.node)
+			return errmsg("Failed to find MTD device %s", argv[optind]);
+	} else if (optind < argc) {
 		return errmsg("more then one MTD device specified (use -h for help)");
+	}
 
 	if (args.all && args.node)
 		args.node = NULL;
