} else if (argv[1][0] == 's') {
                char *pathp;            /* path */
                char *prop;             /* property */
-               char *newval;           /* value from the user (as a string) */
                int  nodeoffset;        /* node offset from libfdt */
                static char data[SCRATCHPAD];   /* storage for the property */
                int  len;               /* new length of the property */
                int  ret;               /* return value */
 
                /*
-                * Parameters: Node path, property, value.
+                * Parameters: Node path, property, optional value.
                 */
-               if (argc < 5) {
+               if (argc < 4) {
                        printf ("Usage:\n%s\n", cmdtp->usage);
                        return 1;
                }
 
                pathp  = argv[2];
                prop   = argv[3];
-               newval = argv[4];
+               if (argc == 4) {
+                       len = 0;
+               } else {
+                       ret = fdt_parse_prop(pathp, prop, argv[4], data, &len);
+                       if (ret != 0)
+                               return ret;
+               }
 
                nodeoffset = fdt_path_offset (fdt, pathp);
                if (nodeoffset < 0) {
                                fdt_strerror(nodeoffset));
                        return 1;
                }
-               ret = fdt_parse_prop(pathp, prop, newval, data, &len);
-               if (ret != 0)
-                       return ret;
 
                ret = fdt_setprop(fdt, nodeoffset, prop, data, len);
                if (ret < 0) {