diff --git a/lib_mips/board.c b/lib_mips/board.c
index 061901e..f8ac234 100644
--- a/lib_mips/board.c
+++ b/lib_mips/board.c
@@ -370,6 +370,10 @@
 
 	bd = gd->bd;
 
+	/* initialize malloc() area */
+	mem_malloc_init();
+	malloc_bin_reloc();
+
 #ifndef CONFIG_SYS_NO_FLASH
 	/* configure available FLASH banks */
 	size = flash_init();
@@ -384,10 +388,6 @@
 	bd->bi_flashoffset = 0;
 #endif
 
-	/* initialize malloc() area */
-	mem_malloc_init();
-	malloc_bin_reloc();
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_CMD_NAND
 	puts ("NAND:  ");
 	nand_init ();		/* go init the NAND */