diff --git a/board/genesi/mx51_efikamx/imximage_mx.cfg b/board/genesi/mx51_efikamx/imximage_mx.cfg
index ea6b2710da6409a5521534842bef0c4dfa812050..38fa760e4bbb8b3c64ace124c180a2a45e697990 100644
--- a/board/genesi/mx51_efikamx/imximage_mx.cfg
+++ b/board/genesi/mx51_efikamx/imximage_mx.cfg
@@ -45,6 +45,16 @@ BOOT_FROM	spi
 #	Address	  absolute address of the register
 #	value	  value to be stored in the register
 
+# Essential GPIO settings to be done as early as possible
+# PCBIDn pad settings are all the defaults except #2 which needs HVE off
+DATA 4 0x73fa8134 0x3			# PCBID0 ALT3 GPIO 3_16
+DATA 4 0x73fa8130 0x3			# PCBID1 ALT3 GPIO 3_17
+DATA 4 0x73fa8128 0x3			# PCBID2 ALT3 GPIO 3_11
+DATA 4 0x73fa8504 0xe4			# PCBID2 PAD ~HVE
+DATA 4 0x73fa8198 0x3			# LED0 ALT3 GPIO 3_13
+DATA 4 0x73fa81c4 0x3			# LED1 ALT3 GPIO 3_14
+DATA 4 0x73fa81c8 0x3			# LED2 ALT3 GPIO 3_15
+
 # DDR bus IOMUX PAD settings
 DATA 4 0x73fa850c 0x20c5		# SDODT1
 DATA 4 0x73fa8510 0x20c5		# SDODT0