diff --git a/arch/arm/boot/Makefile b/arch/arm/boot/Makefile
index a1edfd5a129a..176062ac7f07 100644
--- a/arch/arm/boot/Makefile
+++ b/arch/arm/boot/Makefile
@@ -78,7 +78,16 @@ endif
 
 $(obj)/uImage: STARTADDR=$(LOADADDR)
 
+check_for_multiple_loadaddr = \
+if [ $(words $(LOADADDR)) -gt 1 ]; then \
+	echo 'multiple load addresses: $(LOADADDR)'; \
+	echo 'This is incompatible with uImages'; \
+	echo 'Specify LOADADDR on the commandline to build an uImage'; \
+	false; \
+fi
+
 $(obj)/uImage:	$(obj)/zImage FORCE
+	@$(check_for_multiple_loadaddr)
 	$(call if_changed,uimage)
 	@echo '  Image $@ is ready'