diff --git a/arch/arc/lib/start.S b/arch/arc/lib/start.S
index 3fb05606c7b6b6161454cc31d7d78a4f5c7f2110..e573ce7718b9bd38b370b215032df1397d569809 100644
--- a/arch/arc/lib/start.S
+++ b/arch/arc/lib/start.S
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@ ENTRY(_start)
 	/* Initialize reserved area - note: r0 already contains address */
 	bl	board_init_f_init_reserve
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_UART
+	/* Earliest point to set up early debug uart */
+	bl	debug_uart_init
+#endif
+
 	/* Zero the one and only argument of "board_init_f" */
 	mov_s	%r0, 0
 	bl	board_init_f