diff --git a/arch/mips/cpu/u-boot-spl.lds b/arch/mips/cpu/u-boot-spl.lds
index 310a5c5053b..ea2deed34f1 100644
--- a/arch/mips/cpu/u-boot-spl.lds
+++ b/arch/mips/cpu/u-boot-spl.lds
@@ -27,16 +27,17 @@ SECTIONS
 	.data : {
 		*(SORT_BY_ALIGNMENT(.data*))
 		*(SORT_BY_ALIGNMENT(.sdata*))
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 	} > .spl_mem
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_SPL_DM) || defined(CONFIG_SPL_LOADER_SUPPORT)
 	. = ALIGN(4);
 	__u_boot_list : {
 		KEEP(*(SORT(__u_boot_list*)));
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 	} > .spl_mem
 #endif
 
-	. = ALIGN(4);
 	__image_copy_end = .;
 	__image_copy_len = __image_copy_end - __text_start;
 
@@ -123,3 +124,6 @@ SECTIONS
 		*(.eh_frame)
 	}
 }
+
+ASSERT(_image_binary_end % 8 == 0, \
+       "_image_binary_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");
diff --git a/arch/mips/cpu/u-boot.lds b/arch/mips/cpu/u-boot.lds
index 133ea05df3d..d59a48b7ef8 100644
--- a/arch/mips/cpu/u-boot.lds
+++ b/arch/mips/cpu/u-boot.lds
@@ -54,9 +54,9 @@ SECTIONS
 		LONG(0xFFFFFFFF);
 		FILL(0);
 		. += CONFIG_MIPS_RELOCATION_TABLE_SIZE - 4;
+		. = ALIGN(8);
 	}
 
-	. = ALIGN(8);
 	_end = .;
 
 	.bss __rel_start (OVERLAY) : {
@@ -140,3 +140,5 @@ SECTIONS
 		*(.eh_frame)
 	}
 }
+
+ASSERT(_end % 8 == 0, "_end must be 8-byte aligned for device tree");