diff --git a/drivers/serial/ns16550.c b/drivers/serial/ns16550.c
index eab9537fbae..5ca2828ae85 100644
--- a/drivers/serial/ns16550.c
+++ b/drivers/serial/ns16550.c
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include <ns16550.h>
 #include <reset.h>
 #include <serial.h>
+#include <spl.h>
 #include <watchdog.h>
 #include <asm/global_data.h>
 #include <linux/err.h>
@@ -472,6 +473,10 @@ static int ns16550_serial_getinfo(struct udevice *dev,
 	struct ns16550 *const com_port = dev_get_priv(dev);
 	struct ns16550_plat *plat = com_port->plat;
 
+	/* save code size */
+	if (!spl_in_proper())
+		return -ENOSYS;
+
 	info->type = SERIAL_CHIP_16550_COMPATIBLE;
 #ifdef CONFIG_SYS_NS16550_PORT_MAPPED
 	info->addr_space = SERIAL_ADDRESS_SPACE_IO;