diff --git a/board/boundary/nitrogen6x/nitrogen6x.c b/board/boundary/nitrogen6x/nitrogen6x.c
index 229c237839..e5b7795c5b 100644
--- a/board/boundary/nitrogen6x/nitrogen6x.c
+++ b/board/boundary/nitrogen6x/nitrogen6x.c
@@ -304,6 +304,9 @@ int board_mmc_init(bd_t *bis)
 	usdhc_cfg[0].sdhc_clk = mxc_get_clock(MXC_ESDHC3_CLK);
 	usdhc_cfg[1].sdhc_clk = mxc_get_clock(MXC_ESDHC4_CLK);
 
+	usdhc_cfg[0].max_bus_width = 4;
+	usdhc_cfg[1].max_bus_width = 4;
+
 	for (index = 0; index < CONFIG_SYS_FSL_USDHC_NUM; ++index) {
 		switch (index) {
 		case 0:
diff --git a/board/freescale/mx6qsabrelite/mx6qsabrelite.c b/board/freescale/mx6qsabrelite/mx6qsabrelite.c
index 5b69a6d2de..0e25613f19 100644
--- a/board/freescale/mx6qsabrelite/mx6qsabrelite.c
+++ b/board/freescale/mx6qsabrelite/mx6qsabrelite.c
@@ -274,6 +274,9 @@ int board_mmc_init(bd_t *bis)
 	usdhc_cfg[0].sdhc_clk = mxc_get_clock(MXC_ESDHC3_CLK);
 	usdhc_cfg[1].sdhc_clk = mxc_get_clock(MXC_ESDHC4_CLK);
 
+	usdhc_cfg[0].max_bus_width = 4;
+	usdhc_cfg[1].max_bus_width = 4;
+
 	for (index = 0; index < CONFIG_SYS_FSL_USDHC_NUM; ++index) {
 		switch (index) {
 		case 0:
diff --git a/board/wandboard/wandboard.c b/board/wandboard/wandboard.c
index d95189f77d..8d071e1fe1 100644
--- a/board/wandboard/wandboard.c
+++ b/board/wandboard/wandboard.c
@@ -105,6 +105,8 @@ int board_mmc_init(bd_t *bis)
 	imx_iomux_v3_setup_multiple_pads(usdhc3_pads, ARRAY_SIZE(usdhc3_pads));
 
 	usdhc_cfg[0].sdhc_clk = mxc_get_clock(MXC_ESDHC3_CLK);
+	usdhc_cfg[0].max_bus_width = 4;
+
 	return fsl_esdhc_initialize(bis, &usdhc_cfg[0]);
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/mmc/fsl_esdhc.c b/drivers/mmc/fsl_esdhc.c
index 54b5363169..35f879ea6e 100644
--- a/drivers/mmc/fsl_esdhc.c
+++ b/drivers/mmc/fsl_esdhc.c
@@ -580,6 +580,13 @@ int fsl_esdhc_initialize(bd_t *bis, struct fsl_esdhc_cfg *cfg)
 
 	mmc->host_caps = MMC_MODE_4BIT | MMC_MODE_8BIT | MMC_MODE_HC;
 
+	if (cfg->max_bus_width > 0) {
+		if (cfg->max_bus_width < 8)
+			mmc->host_caps &= ~MMC_MODE_8BIT;
+		if (cfg->max_bus_width < 4)
+			mmc->host_caps &= ~MMC_MODE_4BIT;
+	}
+
 	if (caps & ESDHC_HOSTCAPBLT_HSS)
 		mmc->host_caps |= MMC_MODE_HS_52MHz | MMC_MODE_HS;
 
diff --git a/include/fsl_esdhc.h b/include/fsl_esdhc.h
index 47d2fe4f18..0a1a0715e9 100644
--- a/include/fsl_esdhc.h
+++ b/include/fsl_esdhc.h
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@
 struct fsl_esdhc_cfg {
 	u32	esdhc_base;
 	u32	sdhc_clk;
+	u8	max_bus_width;
 };
 
 /* Select the correct accessors depending on endianess */