diff --git a/tools/binman/binman.py b/tools/binman/binman.py
index 3ccf25f1f8..81a613ddc4 100755
--- a/tools/binman/binman.py
+++ b/tools/binman/binman.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import control
 
 def RunTests():
     """Run the functional tests and any embedded doctests"""
+    import elf_test
     import entry_test
     import fdt_test
     import ftest
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ def RunTests():
     # 'entry' module.
     suite = unittest.TestLoader().loadTestsFromTestCase(entry_test.TestEntry)
     suite.run(result)
-    for module in (ftest.TestFunctional, fdt_test.TestFdt):
+    for module in (ftest.TestFunctional, fdt_test.TestFdt, elf_test.TestElf):
         suite = unittest.TestLoader().loadTestsFromTestCase(module)
         suite.run(result)
 
diff --git a/tools/binman/elf.py b/tools/binman/elf.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..97208b1795
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/binman/elf.py
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2016 Google, Inc
+# Written by Simon Glass <sjg@chromium.org>
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier:      GPL-2.0+
+#
+# Handle various things related to ELF images
+#
+
+from collections import namedtuple, OrderedDict
+import command
+import os
+import re
+import struct
+
+import tools
+
+Symbol = namedtuple('Symbol', ['section', 'address', 'size', 'weak'])
+
+# Used for tests which don't have an ELF file to read
+ignore_missing_files = False
+
+
+def GetSymbols(fname, patterns):
+    """Get the symbols from an ELF file
+
+    Args:
+        fname: Filename of the ELF file to read
+        patterns: List of regex patterns to search for, each a string
+
+    Returns:
+        None, if the file does not exist, or Dict:
+          key: Name of symbol
+          value: Hex value of symbol
+    """
+    stdout = command.Output('objdump', '-t', fname, raise_on_error=False)
+    lines = stdout.splitlines()
+    if patterns:
+        re_syms = re.compile('|'.join(patterns))
+    else:
+        re_syms = None
+    syms = {}
+    syms_started = False
+    for line in lines:
+        if not line or not syms_started:
+            if 'SYMBOL TABLE' in line:
+                syms_started = True
+            line = None  # Otherwise code coverage complains about 'continue'
+            continue
+        if re_syms and not re_syms.search(line):
+            continue
+
+        space_pos = line.find(' ')
+        value, rest = line[:space_pos], line[space_pos + 1:]
+        flags = rest[:7]
+        parts = rest[7:].split()
+        section, size =  parts[:2]
+        if len(parts) > 2:
+            name = parts[2]
+            syms[name] = Symbol(section, int(value, 16), int(size,16),
+                                flags[1] == 'w')
+    return syms
+
+def GetSymbolAddress(fname, sym_name):
+    """Get a value of a symbol from an ELF file
+
+    Args:
+        fname: Filename of the ELF file to read
+        patterns: List of regex patterns to search for, each a string
+
+    Returns:
+        Symbol value (as an integer) or None if not found
+    """
+    syms = GetSymbols(fname, [sym_name])
+    sym = syms.get(sym_name)
+    if not sym:
+        return None
+    return sym.address
diff --git a/tools/binman/elf_test.py b/tools/binman/elf_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dca7bc59f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/binman/elf_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2017 Google, Inc
+# Written by Simon Glass <sjg@chromium.org>
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier:      GPL-2.0+
+#
+# Test for the elf module
+
+import os
+import sys
+import unittest
+
+import elf
+
+binman_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(sys.argv[0]))
+fname = os.path.join(binman_dir, 'test', 'u_boot_ucode_ptr')
+
+class TestElf(unittest.TestCase):
+    def testAllSymbols(self):
+        syms = elf.GetSymbols(fname, [])
+        self.assertIn('.ucode', syms)
+
+    def testRegexSymbols(self):
+        syms = elf.GetSymbols(fname, ['ucode'])
+        self.assertIn('.ucode', syms)
+        syms = elf.GetSymbols(fname, ['missing'])
+        self.assertNotIn('.ucode', syms)
+        syms = elf.GetSymbols(fname, ['missing', 'ucode'])
+        self.assertIn('.ucode', syms)
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/tools/binman/etype/u_boot_spl_bss_pad.py b/tools/binman/etype/u_boot_spl_bss_pad.py
index c005f28191..c37f61db23 100644
--- a/tools/binman/etype/u_boot_spl_bss_pad.py
+++ b/tools/binman/etype/u_boot_spl_bss_pad.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #
 
 import command
+import elf
 from entry import Entry
 from blob import Entry_blob
 import tools
@@ -19,8 +20,8 @@ class Entry_u_boot_spl_bss_pad(Entry_blob):
 
     def ObtainContents(self):
         fname = tools.GetInputFilename('spl/u-boot-spl')
-        args = [['nm', fname], ['grep', '__bss_size']]
-        out = command.RunPipe(args, capture=True).stdout.splitlines()
-        bss_size = int(out[0].split()[0], 16)
+        bss_size = elf.GetSymbolAddress(fname, '__bss_size')
+        if not bss_size:
+            self.Raise('Expected __bss_size symbol in spl/u-boot-spl')
         self.data = chr(0) * bss_size
         self.contents_size = bss_size
diff --git a/tools/binman/etype/u_boot_with_ucode_ptr.py b/tools/binman/etype/u_boot_with_ucode_ptr.py
index 6f01adb970..99b437130d 100644
--- a/tools/binman/etype/u_boot_with_ucode_ptr.py
+++ b/tools/binman/etype/u_boot_with_ucode_ptr.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import struct
 
 import command
+import elf
 from entry import Entry
 from blob import Entry_blob
 import fdt_util
@@ -31,11 +32,9 @@ class Entry_u_boot_with_ucode_ptr(Entry_blob):
     def ObtainContents(self):
         # Figure out where to put the microcode pointer
         fname = tools.GetInputFilename(self.elf_fname)
-        args = [['nm', fname], ['grep', '-w', '_dt_ucode_base_size']]
-        out = (command.RunPipe(args, capture=True, raise_on_error=False).
-               stdout.splitlines())
-        if len(out) == 1:
-            self.target_pos = int(out[0].split()[0], 16)
+        sym = elf.GetSymbolAddress(fname, '_dt_ucode_base_size')
+        if sym:
+           self.target_pos = sym
         elif not fdt_util.GetBool(self._node, 'optional-ucode'):
             self.Raise('Cannot locate _dt_ucode_base_size symbol in u-boot')
 
diff --git a/tools/binman/ftest.py b/tools/binman/ftest.py
index 9083143894..c8155788af 100644
--- a/tools/binman/ftest.py
+++ b/tools/binman/ftest.py
@@ -835,6 +835,13 @@ class TestFunctional(unittest.TestCase):
         data = self._DoReadFile('47_spl_bss_pad.dts')
         self.assertEqual(U_BOOT_SPL_DATA + (chr(0) * 10) + U_BOOT_DATA, data)
 
+        with open(self.TestFile('u_boot_ucode_ptr')) as fd:
+            TestFunctional._MakeInputFile('spl/u-boot-spl', fd.read())
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as e:
+            data = self._DoReadFile('47_spl_bss_pad.dts')
+        self.assertIn('Expected __bss_size symbol in spl/u-boot-spl',
+                      str(e.exception))
+
     def testPackStart16Spl(self):
         """Test that an image with an x86 start16 region can be created"""
         data = self._DoReadFile('48_x86-start16-spl.dts')
diff --git a/tools/binman/test/bss_data.c b/tools/binman/test/bss_data.c
index f865a9d9f6..e0305c382c 100644
--- a/tools/binman/test/bss_data.c
+++ b/tools/binman/test/bss_data.c
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier:     GPL-2.0+
  *
  * Simple program to create a _dt_ucode_base_size symbol which can be read
- * by 'nm'. This is used by binman tests.
+ * by binutils. This is used by binman tests.
  */
 
 int bss_data[10];
diff --git a/tools/binman/test/u_boot_ucode_ptr.c b/tools/binman/test/u_boot_ucode_ptr.c
index 24f349fb9e..734d54f0d4 100644
--- a/tools/binman/test/u_boot_ucode_ptr.c
+++ b/tools/binman/test/u_boot_ucode_ptr.c
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier:     GPL-2.0+
  *
  * Simple program to create a _dt_ucode_base_size symbol which can be read
- * by 'nm'. This is used by binman tests.
+ * by binutils. This is used by binman tests.
  */
 
 static unsigned long _dt_ucode_base_size[2]