diff --git a/src/arch/arm/ArmSystem.py b/src/arch/arm/ArmSystem.py
index f4aedaf980..a86fc88221 100644
--- a/src/arch/arm/ArmSystem.py
+++ b/src/arch/arm/ArmSystem.py
@@ -65,3 +65,4 @@ class LinuxArmSystem(ArmSystem):
     machine_type = Param.ArmMachineType('RealView_PBX',
         "Machine id from http://www.arm.linux.org.uk/developer/machines/")
     atags_addr = Param.Addr(0x100, "Address where default atags structure should be written")
+    early_kernel_symbols = Param.Bool(False, "enable early kernel symbol tables before MMU")
diff --git a/src/arch/arm/linux/system.cc b/src/arch/arm/linux/system.cc
index 0d9e73a53a..d537717ec0 100644
--- a/src/arch/arm/linux/system.cc
+++ b/src/arch/arm/linux/system.cc
@@ -114,10 +114,12 @@ LinuxArmSystem::initState()
     ArmSystem::initState();
 
     // Load symbols at physical address, we might not want
-    // to do this perminately, for but early bootup work
-    // it is helpfulp.
-    kernel->loadGlobalSymbols(kernelSymtab, loadAddrMask);
-    kernel->loadGlobalSymbols(debugSymbolTable, loadAddrMask);
+    // to do this permanently, for but early bootup work
+    // it is helpful.
+    if (params()->early_kernel_symbols) {
+        kernel->loadGlobalSymbols(kernelSymtab, loadAddrMask);
+        kernel->loadGlobalSymbols(debugSymbolTable, loadAddrMask);
+    }
 
     // Setup boot data structure
     AtagCore *ac = new AtagCore;