diff --git a/target/linux/mvebu/base-files/lib/mvebu.sh b/target/linux/mvebu/base-files/lib/mvebu.sh
index 9d06626793c..e8985b46643 100755
--- a/target/linux/mvebu/base-files/lib/mvebu.sh
+++ b/target/linux/mvebu/base-files/lib/mvebu.sh
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ mvebu_board_detect() {
 mvebu_board_name() {
 	local name
 
+	[ -f /tmp/sysinfo/board_name ] || mvebu_board_detect
 	[ -f /tmp/sysinfo/board_name ] && name=$(cat /tmp/sysinfo/board_name)
 	[ -z "$name" ] && name="unknown"
 
diff --git a/target/linux/mvebu/base-files/lib/preinit/03_preinit_do_mvebu.sh b/target/linux/mvebu/base-files/lib/preinit/03_preinit_do_mvebu.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index 054c9d33a35..00000000000
--- a/target/linux/mvebu/base-files/lib/preinit/03_preinit_do_mvebu.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/sh
-
-do_mvebu() {
-	. /lib/mvebu.sh
-
-	mvebu_board_detect
-}
-
-boot_hook_add preinit_main do_mvebu