diff --git a/configs/sama5d4-ek/src/sam_bringup.c b/configs/sama5d4-ek/src/sam_bringup.c
index ab6f4de18e..b1c795fb83 100644
--- a/configs/sama5d4-ek/src/sam_bringup.c
+++ b/configs/sama5d4-ek/src/sam_bringup.c
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@
 #  include <apps/usbmonitor.h>
 #endif
 
+#include <nuttx/binfmt/elf.h>
+
 #include "sama5d4-ek.h"
 
 /****************************************************************************
@@ -58,10 +60,14 @@
 
 /* Debug ********************************************************************/
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_CPP_HAVE_VARARGS
-#  define message(...) syslog(__VA_ARGS__)
+#ifdef CONFIG_BOARD_INITIALIZE
+#  define message lldbg
 #else
-#  define message syslog
+#  ifdef CONFIG_CPP_HAVE_VARARGS
+#    define message(...) syslog(__VA_ARGS__)
+#  else
+#    define message syslog
+#  endif
 #endif
 
 /****************************************************************************
@@ -78,9 +84,9 @@
 
 int sam_bringup(void)
 {
-#if defined(HAVE_NAND)    || defined(HAVE_AT25)       || defined(HAVE_HSMCI)  || \
+#if defined(HAVE_NAND) || defined(HAVE_AT25) || defined(HAVE_HSMCI)  || \
     defined(HAVE_USBHOST) || defined(HAVE_USBMONITOR) || defined(HAVE_WM8904) || \
-    defined(HAVE_AUTOMOUNTER)
+    defined(HAVE_AUTOMOUNTER) || defined(HAVE_ELF)
   int ret;
 #endif
 
@@ -212,6 +218,17 @@ int sam_bringup(void)
     }
 #endif
 
+#ifdef HAVE_ELF
+  /* Initialize the ELF binary loader */
+
+  message("Initializing the ELF binary loader\n");
+  ret = elf_initialize();
+  if (ret < 0)
+    {
+      message("ERROR: Initialization of the ELF loader failed: %d\n", ret);
+    }
+#endif
+
   /* If we got here then perhaps not all initialization was successful, but
    * at least enough succeeded to bring-up NSH with perhaps reduced
    * capabilities.
diff --git a/configs/sama5d4-ek/src/sama5d4-ek.h b/configs/sama5d4-ek/src/sama5d4-ek.h
index ee898be3e8..dbcc0987fd 100644
--- a/configs/sama5d4-ek/src/sama5d4-ek.h
+++ b/configs/sama5d4-ek/src/sama5d4-ek.h
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@
 #define HAVE_WM8904      1
 #define HAVE_AUDIO_NULL  1
 #define HAVE_PMIC        1
+#define HAVE_ELF         1
 
 /* HSMCI */
 /* Can't support MMC/SD if the card interface(s) are not enable */
@@ -455,6 +456,12 @@
 #  undef HAVE_PMIC /* REVISIT: Disable anyway because it does not yet work */
 #endif
 
+/* ELF */
+
+#if defined(CONFIG_BINFMT_DISABLE) || !defined(CONFIG_ELF)
+#  undef HAVE_ELF
+#endif
+
 /* LEDs *****************************************************************************/
 /* There are 3 LEDs on the SAMA5D4-EK:
  *