static void omap3_evm_get_revision(void)
 {
+#if defined(CONFIG_CMD_NET)
+       /*
+        * Board revision can be ascertained only by identifying
+        * the Ethernet chipset.
+        */
        unsigned int smsc_id;
 
        /* Ethernet PHY ID is stored at ID_REV register */
        default:
                omap3_evm_version = OMAP3EVM_BOARD_GEN_2;
        }
+#else
+#if defined(CONFIG_STATIC_BOARD_REV)
+       /*
+        * Look for static defintion of the board revision
+        */
+       omap3_evm_version = CONFIG_STATIC_BOARD_REV;
+#else
+       /*
+        * Fallback to the default above.
+        */
+       omap3_evm_version = OMAP3EVM_BOARD_GEN_2;
+#endif
+#endif /* CONFIG_CMD_NET */
 }
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_USB_OMAP3
 #if defined(CONFIG_CMD_NET)
        setup_net_chip();
 #endif
+       omap3_evm_get_revision();
 
        dieid_num_r();
 
        writel(GPIO0, &gpio3_base->cleardataout);
        udelay(1);
        writel(GPIO0, &gpio3_base->setdataout);
-
-       /* determine omap3evm revision */
-       omap3_evm_get_revision();
 }
 
 int board_eth_init(bd_t *bis)
 
 #define CONFIG_SYS_SDRAM_BASE          PHYS_SDRAM_1
 #define CONFIG_SYS_INIT_SP_ADDR                (LOW_LEVEL_SRAM_STACK - CONFIG_SYS_GBL_DATA_SIZE)
 
+/*
+ * Define the board revision statically
+ */
+/* #define CONFIG_STATIC_BOARD_REV     OMAP3EVM_BOARD_GEN_2 */
+
 /*----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  * SMSC9115 Ethernet from SMSC9118 family
  *----------------------------------------------------------------------------