diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-sunxi/board.c b/arch/arm/mach-sunxi/board.c
index 6d9518d4c6..8a385a25fd 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-sunxi/board.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-sunxi/board.c
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ static int gpio_init(void)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int spl_board_load_image(void)
+int spl_board_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	debug("Returning to FEL sp=%x, lr=%x\n", fel_stash.sp, fel_stash.lr);
 	return_to_fel(fel_stash.sp, fel_stash.lr);
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-uniphier/boot-mode/spl_board.c b/arch/arm/mach-uniphier/boot-mode/spl_board.c
index 63ab41ce1b..4eadc2f26a 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-uniphier/boot-mode/spl_board.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-uniphier/boot-mode/spl_board.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ int uniphier_rom_get_mmc_funcptr(int (**send_cmd)(u32, u32),
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int spl_board_load_image(void)
+int spl_board_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	int (*send_cmd)(u32 cmd, u32 arg);
 	int (*card_blockaddr)(u32 rca);
diff --git a/arch/sandbox/cpu/spl.c b/arch/sandbox/cpu/spl.c
index e8349c0b93..4cee293f76 100644
--- a/arch/sandbox/cpu/spl.c
+++ b/arch/sandbox/cpu/spl.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ void spl_board_announce_boot_device(void)
 	printf("%s\n", fname);
 }
 
-int spl_board_load_image(void)
+int spl_board_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	char fname[256];
 	int ret;
diff --git a/common/spl/spl.c b/common/spl/spl.c
index 6d071312bc..167bff07f9 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl.c
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ static ulong spl_ram_load_read(struct spl_load_info *load, ulong sector,
 	return count;
 }
 
-static int spl_ram_load_image(void)
+static int spl_ram_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	struct image_header *header;
 
@@ -349,71 +349,76 @@ static inline void announce_boot_device(u32 boot_device) { }
 
 static int spl_load_image(u32 boot_device)
 {
+	struct spl_boot_device bootdev;
+
+	bootdev.boot_device = boot_device;
+	bootdev.boot_device_name = NULL;
+
 	switch (boot_device) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_RAM_DEVICE
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_RAM:
-		return spl_ram_load_image();
+		return spl_ram_load_image(&bootdev);
 #endif
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_MMC_SUPPORT
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_MMC1:
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_MMC2:
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_MMC2_2:
-		return spl_mmc_load_image(boot_device);
+		return spl_mmc_load_image(&bootdev);
 #endif
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_UBI
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_NAND:
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_ONENAND:
-		return spl_ubi_load_image(boot_device);
+		return spl_ubi_load_image(&bootdev);
 #else
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_NAND_SUPPORT
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_NAND:
-		return spl_nand_load_image();
+		return spl_nand_load_image(&bootdev);
 #endif
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_ONENAND_SUPPORT
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_ONENAND:
-		return spl_onenand_load_image();
+		return spl_onenand_load_image(&bootdev);
 #endif
 #endif
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_NOR_SUPPORT
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_NOR:
-		return spl_nor_load_image();
+		return spl_nor_load_image(&bootdev);
 #endif
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_YMODEM_SUPPORT
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_UART:
-		return spl_ymodem_load_image();
+		return spl_ymodem_load_image(&bootdev);
 #endif
 #if defined(CONFIG_SPL_SPI_SUPPORT) || defined(CONFIG_SPL_SPI_FLASH_SUPPORT)
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_SPI:
-		return spl_spi_load_image();
+		return spl_spi_load_image(&bootdev);
 #endif
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_ETH_SUPPORT
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_CPGMAC:
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_ETH_DEVICE
-		return spl_net_load_image(CONFIG_SPL_ETH_DEVICE);
-#else
-		return spl_net_load_image(NULL);
+		bootdev.boot_device_name = CONFIG_SPL_ETH_DEVICE;
 #endif
+		return spl_net_load_image(&bootdev);
 #endif
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_USBETH_SUPPORT
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_USBETH:
-		return spl_net_load_image("usb_ether");
+		bootdev.boot_device_name = "usb_ether";
+		return spl_net_load_image(&bootdev);
 #endif
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_USB_SUPPORT
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_USB:
-		return spl_usb_load_image();
+		return spl_usb_load_image(&bootdev);
 #endif
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_DFU_SUPPORT
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_DFU:
 		spl_dfu_cmd(0, "dfu_alt_info_ram", "ram", "0");
-		return spl_ram_load_image();
+		return spl_ram_load_image(&bootdev);
 #endif
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_SATA_SUPPORT
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_SATA:
-		return spl_sata_load_image();
+		return spl_sata_load_image(&bootdev);
 #endif
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_BOARD_LOAD_IMAGE
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_BOARD:
-		return spl_board_load_image();
+		return spl_board_load_image(&bootdev);
 #endif
 	default:
 #if defined(CONFIG_SPL_SERIAL_SUPPORT) && defined(CONFIG_SPL_LIBCOMMON_SUPPORT)
diff --git a/common/spl/spl_mmc.c b/common/spl/spl_mmc.c
index 97c11b37f6..899caf4a9b 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl_mmc.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl_mmc.c
@@ -267,14 +267,14 @@ int spl_mmc_do_fs_boot(struct mmc *mmc)
 }
 #endif
 
-int spl_mmc_load_image(u32 boot_device)
+int spl_mmc_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	struct mmc *mmc = NULL;
 	u32 boot_mode;
 	int err = 0;
 	__maybe_unused int part;
 
-	err = spl_mmc_find_device(&mmc, boot_device);
+	err = spl_mmc_find_device(&mmc, bootdev->boot_device);
 	if (err)
 		return err;
 
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ int spl_mmc_load_image(u32 boot_device)
 		return err;
 	}
 
-	boot_mode = spl_boot_mode(boot_device);
+	boot_mode = spl_boot_mode(bootdev->boot_device);
 	err = -EINVAL;
 	switch (boot_mode) {
 	case MMCSD_MODE_EMMCBOOT:
diff --git a/common/spl/spl_nand.c b/common/spl/spl_nand.c
index f25220f172..575de661d3 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl_nand.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl_nand.c
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 #include <fdt.h>
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_SPL_NAND_RAW_ONLY)
-int spl_nand_load_image(void)
+int spl_nand_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	nand_init();
 
diff --git a/common/spl/spl_net.c b/common/spl/spl_net.c
index f417d177eb..730f88e0d6 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl_net.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl_net.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
 
-int spl_net_load_image(const char *device)
+int spl_net_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	int rv;
 
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ int spl_net_load_image(const char *device)
 		printf("No Ethernet devices found\n");
 		return -ENODEV;
 	}
-	if (device)
-		setenv("ethact", device);
+	if (bootdev->boot_device_name)
+		setenv("ethact", bootdev->boot_device_name);
 	rv = net_loop(BOOTP);
 	if (rv < 0) {
 		printf("Problem booting with BOOTP\n");
diff --git a/common/spl/spl_nor.c b/common/spl/spl_nor.c
index 57771e8f57..f10d679922 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl_nor.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl_nor.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #include <common.h>
 #include <spl.h>
 
-int spl_nor_load_image(void)
+int spl_nor_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	int ret;
 	/*
diff --git a/common/spl/spl_onenand.c b/common/spl/spl_onenand.c
index 8d2c51bc47..f5e2f95b13 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl_onenand.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl_onenand.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 #include <asm/io.h>
 #include <onenand_uboot.h>
 
-int spl_onenand_load_image(void)
+int spl_onenand_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	struct image_header *header;
 	int ret;
diff --git a/common/spl/spl_sata.c b/common/spl/spl_sata.c
index 9d8cc7c2dd..77fd73c989 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl_sata.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl_sata.c
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
 
-int spl_sata_load_image(void)
+int spl_sata_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	int err;
 	struct blk_desc *stor_dev;
diff --git a/common/spl/spl_ubi.c b/common/spl/spl_ubi.c
index 5198babaae..d64e6cf57d 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl_ubi.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl_ubi.c
@@ -12,14 +12,14 @@
 #include <ubispl.h>
 #include <spl.h>
 
-int spl_ubi_load_image(u32 boot_device)
+int spl_ubi_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	struct image_header *header;
 	struct ubispl_info info;
 	struct ubispl_load volumes[2];
 	int ret = 1;
 
-	switch (boot_device) {
+	switch (bootdev->boot_device) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_NAND_SUPPORT
 	case BOOT_DEVICE_NAND:
 		nand_init();
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ int spl_ubi_load_image(u32 boot_device)
 		spl_parse_image_header(&spl_image, header);
 out:
 #ifdef CONFIG_SPL_NAND_SUPPORT
-	if (boot_device == BOOT_DEVICE_NAND)
+	if (bootdev->boot_device == BOOT_DEVICE_NAND)
 		nand_deselect();
 #endif
 	return ret;
diff --git a/common/spl/spl_usb.c b/common/spl/spl_usb.c
index 04fa66758c..f990336a3c 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl_usb.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl_usb.c
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
 static int usb_stor_curr_dev = -1; /* current device */
 #endif
 
-int spl_usb_load_image(void)
+int spl_usb_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	int err;
 	struct blk_desc *stor_dev;
diff --git a/common/spl/spl_ymodem.c b/common/spl/spl_ymodem.c
index 1323b6f028..d82b138568 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl_ymodem.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl_ymodem.c
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ static ulong ymodem_read_fit(struct spl_load_info *load, ulong offset,
 	return size;
 }
 
-int spl_ymodem_load_image(void)
+int spl_ymodem_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	int size = 0;
 	int err;
diff --git a/drivers/mtd/spi/spi_spl_load.c b/drivers/mtd/spi/spi_spl_load.c
index ac5eae3323..e4cc0d0822 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/spi/spi_spl_load.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/spi/spi_spl_load.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ static ulong spl_spi_fit_read(struct spl_load_info *load, ulong sector,
  * configured and available since this code loads the main U-Boot image
  * from SPI into SDRAM and starts it from there.
  */
-int spl_spi_load_image(void)
+int spl_spi_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	int err = 0;
 	struct spi_flash *flash;
diff --git a/drivers/mtd/spi/sunxi_spi_spl.c b/drivers/mtd/spi/sunxi_spi_spl.c
index a992bfaca1..767959cdfa 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/spi/sunxi_spi_spl.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/spi/sunxi_spi_spl.c
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ static void spi0_read_data(void *buf, u32 addr, u32 len)
 
 /*****************************************************************************/
 
-int spl_spi_load_image(void)
+int spl_spi_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev)
 {
 	int err;
 	struct image_header *header;
diff --git a/include/spl.h b/include/spl.h
index f7009553b9..4435089b16 100644
--- a/include/spl.h
+++ b/include/spl.h
@@ -131,35 +131,53 @@ int spl_start_uboot(void);
  */
 void spl_display_print(void);
 
+/**
+ * struct spl_boot_device - Describes a boot device used by SPL
+ *
+ * @boot_device: A number indicating the BOOT_DEVICE type. There are various
+ * BOOT_DEVICE... #defines and enums in U-Boot and they are not consistently
+ * numbered.
+ * @boot_device_name: Named boot device, or NULL if none.
+ *
+ * Note: Additional fields can be added here, bearing in mind that SPL is
+ * size-sensitive and common fields will be present on all boards. This
+ * struct can also be used to return additional information about the load
+ * process if that becomes useful.
+ */
+struct spl_boot_device {
+	uint boot_device;
+	const char *boot_device_name;
+};
+
 /* NAND SPL functions */
-int spl_nand_load_image(void);
+int spl_nand_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev);
 
 /* OneNAND SPL functions */
-int spl_onenand_load_image(void);
+int spl_onenand_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev);
 
 /* NOR SPL functions */
-int spl_nor_load_image(void);
+int spl_nor_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev);
 
 /* UBI SPL functions */
-int spl_ubi_load_image(u32 boot_device);
+int spl_ubi_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev);
 
 /* MMC SPL functions */
-int spl_mmc_load_image(u32 boot_device);
+int spl_mmc_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev);
 
 /* YMODEM SPL functions */
-int spl_ymodem_load_image(void);
+int spl_ymodem_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev);
 
 /* SPI SPL functions */
-int spl_spi_load_image(void);
+int spl_spi_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev);
 
 /* Ethernet SPL functions */
-int spl_net_load_image(const char *device);
+int spl_net_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev);
 
 /* USB SPL functions */
-int spl_usb_load_image(void);
+int spl_usb_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev);
 
 /* SATA SPL functions */
-int spl_sata_load_image(void);
+int spl_sata_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev);
 
 /* SPL FAT image functions */
 int spl_load_image_fat(struct blk_desc *block_dev, int partition,
@@ -214,6 +232,6 @@ int spl_dfu_cmd(int usbctrl, char *dfu_alt_info, char *interface, char *devstr);
  *
  * @return 0 on success, negative errno value on failure.
  */
-int spl_board_load_image(void);
+int spl_board_load_image(struct spl_boot_device *bootdev);
 
 #endif