diff --git a/include/globalvars.h b/include/globalvars.h
index b1f4ec5cc2..b144e19f98 100644
--- a/include/globalvars.h
+++ b/include/globalvars.h
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ struct global_vars {
 	/* these two values are of interest in many stages */
 	u32 init_detected;
 	struct sys_info sys_info;
+	/* has the spd hardware been set up? */
+	int spd_inited;
 };
 
 #endif /* GLOBALVARS_H */
diff --git a/southbridge/amd/cs5536/smbus_initram.c b/southbridge/amd/cs5536/smbus_initram.c
index 989a705903..8304f43c20 100644
--- a/southbridge/amd/cs5536/smbus_initram.c
+++ b/southbridge/amd/cs5536/smbus_initram.c
@@ -321,11 +321,11 @@ err:
  */
 int smbus_read_byte(u16 device, u8 address)
 {
-	static int first_time = 1;
+	struct global_vars *g = global_vars();
 
-	if (first_time) {
+	if (!g->spd_inited) {
 		smbus_init();
-		first_time = 0;
+		g->spd_inited = 1;
 	}
 
 	return do_smbus_read_byte(SMBUS_IO_BASE, device, address);