diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/arm1136/u-boot-spl.lds b/arch/arm/cpu/arm1136/u-boot-spl.lds
index b7af29183a9..22a9302275a 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/arm1136/u-boot-spl.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/arm1136/u-boot-spl.lds
@@ -30,8 +30,10 @@ SECTIONS
 	.rodata : { *(SORT_BY_ALIGNMENT(.rodata*)) } >.sram
 
 	. = ALIGN(4);
-	.data : { *(SORT_BY_ALIGNMENT(.data*)) } >.sram
-	. = ALIGN(4);
+	.data : {
+		*(SORT_BY_ALIGNMENT(.data*))
+		. = ALIGN(8);
+	} >.sram
 	__image_copy_end = .;
 	_end = .;
 
@@ -44,3 +46,5 @@ SECTIONS
 		__bss_end = .;
 	} >.sdram
 }
+
+ASSERT(_end % 8 == 0, "_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/arm926ejs/mxs/u-boot-spl.lds b/arch/arm/cpu/arm926ejs/mxs/u-boot-spl.lds
index 7c6309246f8..b4adae272eb 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/arm926ejs/mxs/u-boot-spl.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/arm926ejs/mxs/u-boot-spl.lds
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ SECTIONS
 		. = ALIGN(4);
 		__bss_start = .;
 		*(.bss*)
-		. = ALIGN(4);
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 		__bss_end = .;
 	}
 
@@ -62,3 +62,6 @@ SECTIONS
 	.gnu : { *(.gnu*) }
 	.ARM.exidx : { *(.ARM.exidx*) }
 }
+
+ASSERT(_image_binary_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "_image_binary_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/arm926ejs/sunxi/u-boot-spl.lds b/arch/arm/cpu/arm926ejs/sunxi/u-boot-spl.lds
index cf65e8c4628..2225985c79c 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/arm926ejs/sunxi/u-boot-spl.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/arm926ejs/sunxi/u-boot-spl.lds
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ SECTIONS
 	. = ALIGN(4);
 	__u_boot_list : {
 		KEEP(*(SORT(__u_boot_list*)));
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 	} > .sram
 
-	. = ALIGN(4);
 	__image_copy_end = .;
 	_end = .;
 	_image_binary_end = .;
@@ -47,3 +47,6 @@ SECTIONS
 		__bss_end = .;
 	} > .sdram
 }
+
+ASSERT(_image_binary_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "_image_binary_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/sunxi/u-boot-spl.lds b/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/sunxi/u-boot-spl.lds
index fb7a789b28b..e69291d8be6 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/sunxi/u-boot-spl.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/armv7/sunxi/u-boot-spl.lds
@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@ SECTIONS
 	. = ALIGN(4);
 	__u_boot_list : {
 		KEEP(*(SORT(__u_boot_list*)));
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 	} > .sram
 
-	. = ALIGN(4);
 	__image_copy_end = .;
 	_end = .;
 	_image_binary_end = .;
@@ -56,3 +56,6 @@ SECTIONS
 		__bss_end = .;
 	} > .sdram
 }
+
+ASSERT(_image_binary_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "_image_binary_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/armv8/u-boot-spl.lds b/arch/arm/cpu/armv8/u-boot-spl.lds
index c4f83ec9cfc..d9963846c4f 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/armv8/u-boot-spl.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/armv8/u-boot-spl.lds
@@ -52,9 +52,9 @@ SECTIONS
 	__u_boot_list : {
 		. = ALIGN(8);
 		KEEP(*(SORT(__u_boot_list*)));
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 	} >.sram
 
-	. = ALIGN(8);
 	__image_copy_end = .;
 	_end = .;
 	_image_binary_end = .;
@@ -89,5 +89,7 @@ SECTIONS
 #endif
 }
 
+ASSERT(_image_binary_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "_image_binary_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
 ASSERT(ADDR(.bss) % 8 == 0, \
        ".bss must be 8-byte aligned");
diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/armv8/u-boot.lds b/arch/arm/cpu/armv8/u-boot.lds
index f4ce98c82c8..231ab28b50c 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/armv8/u-boot.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/armv8/u-boot.lds
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ SECTIONS
 		__rel_dyn_start = .;
 		*(.rela*)
 		__rel_dyn_end = .;
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 	}
 
 	_end = .;
@@ -175,3 +176,5 @@ SECTIONS
 #include "linux-kernel-image-header-vars.h"
 #endif
 }
+
+ASSERT(_end % 8 == 0, "_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/u-boot-spl.lds b/arch/arm/cpu/u-boot-spl.lds
index 5aecb61ce90..d780a506077 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/u-boot-spl.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/u-boot-spl.lds
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ SECTIONS
 		__rel_dyn_start = .;
 		*(.rel*)
 		__rel_dyn_end = .;
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 	}
 
-	. = ALIGN(8);
 	_image_binary_end = .;
 	_end = .;
 
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ ASSERT(__image_copy_end - __image_copy_start <= (IMAGE_MAX_SIZE), \
 	"SPL image too big");
 #endif
 
+ASSERT(_image_binary_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "_image_binary_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
+
 #if defined(CONFIG_SPL_BSS_MAX_SIZE)
 ASSERT(__bss_end - __bss_start <= (CONFIG_SPL_BSS_MAX_SIZE), \
 	"SPL image BSS too big");
diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/u-boot.lds b/arch/arm/cpu/u-boot.lds
index 78aad093d3b..8e2266a90fe 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/u-boot.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/u-boot.lds
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ SECTIONS
 		__rel_dyn_start = .;
 		*(.rel*)
 		__rel_dyn_end = .;
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 	}
 
 	_end = .;
@@ -192,3 +193,6 @@ SECTIONS
 	/DISCARD/ : { *(.ARM.exidx*) }
 	/DISCARD/ : { *(.gnu.linkonce.armexidx.*) }
 }
+
+ASSERT(_image_binary_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "_image_binary_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-aspeed/ast2600/u-boot-spl.lds b/arch/arm/mach-aspeed/ast2600/u-boot-spl.lds
index 9502a7384b5..c9664a6ce56 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-aspeed/ast2600/u-boot-spl.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-aspeed/ast2600/u-boot-spl.lds
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ SECTIONS
 		__rel_dyn_start = .;
 		*(.rel*)
 		__rel_dyn_end = .;
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 	} > .nor
 
 	_end = .;
@@ -79,6 +80,9 @@ ASSERT(__image_copy_end - __image_copy_start <= (IMAGE_MAX_SIZE), \
 	"SPL image too big");
 #endif
 
+ASSERT(_image_binary_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "_image_binary_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
+
 #if defined(CONFIG_SPL_BSS_MAX_SIZE)
 ASSERT(__bss_end - __bss_start <= (CONFIG_SPL_BSS_MAX_SIZE), \
 	"SPL image BSS too big");
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-at91/arm926ejs/u-boot-spl.lds b/arch/arm/mach-at91/arm926ejs/u-boot-spl.lds
index 09cf838cf96..1af4f7b6524 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-at91/arm926ejs/u-boot-spl.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-at91/arm926ejs/u-boot-spl.lds
@@ -29,9 +29,11 @@ SECTIONS
 	.data : { *(SORT_BY_ALIGNMENT(.data*)) } >.sram
 
 	. = ALIGN(4);
-	__u_boot_list : { KEEP(*(SORT(__u_boot_list*))) } > .sram
+	__u_boot_list : {
+		KEEP(*(SORT(__u_boot_list*)))
+		. = ALIGN(8);
+	} > .sram
 
-	. = ALIGN(4);
 	__image_copy_end = .;
 	_end = .;
 	_image_binary_end = .;
@@ -51,6 +53,9 @@ ASSERT(__image_copy_end - __start <= (IMAGE_MAX_SIZE), \
 	"SPL image too big");
 #endif
 
+ASSERT(_image_binary_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "_image_binary_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
+
 #if defined(CONFIG_SPL_BSS_MAX_SIZE)
 ASSERT(__bss_end - __bss_start <= (CONFIG_SPL_BSS_MAX_SIZE), \
 	"SPL image BSS too big");
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-at91/armv7/u-boot-spl.lds b/arch/arm/mach-at91/armv7/u-boot-spl.lds
index 460a91d93ec..287764df48f 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-at91/armv7/u-boot-spl.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-at91/armv7/u-boot-spl.lds
@@ -36,9 +36,11 @@ SECTIONS
 	.data : { *(SORT_BY_ALIGNMENT(.data*)) } >.sram
 
 	. = ALIGN(4);
-	__u_boot_list : { KEEP(*(SORT(__u_boot_list*))) } > .sram
+	__u_boot_list : {
+		KEEP(*(SORT(__u_boot_list*)))
+		. = ALIGN(8);
+	} > .sram
 
-	. = ALIGN(4);
 	__image_copy_end = .;
 	_end = .;
 	_image_binary_end = .;
@@ -52,3 +54,6 @@ SECTIONS
 		__bss_end = .;
 	} >.sdram
 }
+
+ASSERT(_image_binary_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "_image_binary_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-omap2/u-boot-spl.lds b/arch/arm/mach-omap2/u-boot-spl.lds
index 3bb759d8a1c..b61e657900a 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-omap2/u-boot-spl.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-omap2/u-boot-spl.lds
@@ -51,3 +51,6 @@ SECTIONS
 		__bss_end = .;
 	} >.sdram
 }
+
+ASSERT(_image_binary_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "_image_binary_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-rockchip/u-boot-tpl-v8.lds b/arch/arm/mach-rockchip/u-boot-tpl-v8.lds
index 958a1b70aef..2c0f5c3e5f3 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-rockchip/u-boot-tpl-v8.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-rockchip/u-boot-tpl-v8.lds
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ SECTIONS
 	__u_boot_list : {
 		. = ALIGN(8);
 		KEEP(*(SORT(__u_boot_list*)));
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 	}
 
-	. = ALIGN(8);
 	__image_copy_end = .;
 	_end = .;
 	_image_binary_end = .;
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ ASSERT(__image_copy_end - __image_copy_start < (CONFIG_TPL_MAX_SIZE), \
 	"TPL image too big");
 #endif
 
+ASSERT(_image_binary_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "_image_binary_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
+
 #if defined(CONFIG_TPL_BSS_MAX_SIZE)
 ASSERT(__bss_end - __bss_start < (CONFIG_TPL_BSS_MAX_SIZE), \
 	"TPL image BSS too big");
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-zynq/u-boot-spl.lds b/arch/arm/mach-zynq/u-boot-spl.lds
index d96a5770288..17f0d7c9b72 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-zynq/u-boot-spl.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-zynq/u-boot-spl.lds
@@ -39,10 +39,9 @@ SECTIONS
 	. = ALIGN(4);
 	__u_boot_list : {
 		KEEP(*(SORT(__u_boot_list*)));
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 	} > .sram
 
-	. = ALIGN(4);
-
 	_image_binary_end = .;
 
 	_end = .;
@@ -62,3 +61,6 @@ SECTIONS
 	/DISCARD/ : { *(.interp*) }
 	/DISCARD/ : { *(.gnu*) }
 }
+
+ASSERT(_image_binary_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "_image_binary_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-zynq/u-boot.lds b/arch/arm/mach-zynq/u-boot.lds
index f52523edf49..2a8e3399e0b 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-zynq/u-boot.lds
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-zynq/u-boot.lds
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ SECTIONS
 		__rel_dyn_start = .;
 		*(.rel*)
 		__rel_dyn_end = .;
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 	}
 
 	_end = .;
@@ -98,3 +99,5 @@ SECTIONS
 	/DISCARD/ : { *(.ARM.exidx*) }
 	/DISCARD/ : { *(.gnu.linkonce.armexidx.*) }
 }
+
+ASSERT(_end % 8 == 0, "_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
diff --git a/board/davinci/da8xxevm/u-boot-spl-da850evm.lds b/board/davinci/da8xxevm/u-boot-spl-da850evm.lds
index 56d6f4f114b..d1a82e118af 100644
--- a/board/davinci/da8xxevm/u-boot-spl-da850evm.lds
+++ b/board/davinci/da8xxevm/u-boot-spl-da850evm.lds
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ SECTIONS
 		__rel_dyn_start = .;
 		*(.rel*)
 		__rel_dyn_end = .;
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 	} >.sram
 
 	__image_copy_end = .;
@@ -58,3 +59,6 @@ SECTIONS
 		__bss_end = .;
 	} >.sdram
 }
+
+ASSERT(_image_binary_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "_image_binary_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
diff --git a/board/samsung/common/exynos-uboot-spl.lds b/board/samsung/common/exynos-uboot-spl.lds
index 9d3b57e98db..62e150bcf33 100644
--- a/board/samsung/common/exynos-uboot-spl.lds
+++ b/board/samsung/common/exynos-uboot-spl.lds
@@ -48,7 +48,10 @@ SECTIONS
 		. = ALIGN(4);
 		__bss_start = .;
 		*(.bss*)
-		. = ALIGN(4);
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 		__bss_end = .;
 	} >.sram
 }
+
+ASSERT(__bss_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "__bss_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");