diff --git a/arch/mips/lib/bootm.c b/arch/mips/lib/bootm.c
index b07884a..8e16994 100644
--- a/arch/mips/lib/bootm.c
+++ b/arch/mips/lib/bootm.c
@@ -50,10 +50,14 @@
 	void *fdt;
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	elf = elf_load_image(data->os_file);
+	elf = elf_open(data->os_file);
 	if (IS_ERR(elf))
 		return PTR_ERR(elf);
 
+	ret = elf_load(elf);
+	if (ret)
+		goto bootm_elf_done;
+
 	fdt = bootm_get_devicetree(data);
 	if (IS_ERR(fdt)) {
 		ret = PTR_ERR(fdt);
@@ -76,7 +80,7 @@
 	ret = -EINVAL;
 
 bootm_elf_done:
-	elf_release_image(elf);
+	elf_close(elf);
 	free(fdt);
 
 	return ret;
diff --git a/common/elf.c b/common/elf.c
index 1bcaafe..af22be3 100644
--- a/common/elf.c
+++ b/common/elf.c
@@ -285,23 +285,17 @@
 	return ERR_PTR(ret);
 }
 
-struct elf_image *elf_load_image(const char *filename)
+struct elf_image *elf_open(const char *filename)
 {
-	int ret;
-	struct elf_image *elf;
-
-	elf = elf_check_init(filename);
-	if (IS_ERR(elf))
-		return elf;
-
-	ret = load_elf_image_segments(elf);
-	if (ret)
-		return ERR_PTR(ret);
-
-	return elf;
+	return elf_check_init(filename);
 }
 
-void elf_release_image(struct elf_image *elf)
+int elf_load(struct elf_image *elf)
+{
+	return load_elf_image_segments(elf);
+}
+
+void elf_close(struct elf_image *elf)
 {
 	elf_release_regions(elf);
 
diff --git a/include/elf.h b/include/elf.h
index f1a80a2..7970fd2 100644
--- a/include/elf.h
+++ b/include/elf.h
@@ -414,8 +414,9 @@
 	return elf->high_addr - elf->low_addr;
 }
 
-struct elf_image *elf_load_image(const char *filename);
-void elf_release_image(struct elf_image *elf);
+struct elf_image *elf_open(const char *filename);
+void elf_close(struct elf_image *elf);
+int elf_load(struct elf_image *elf);
 
 #define ELF_GET_FIELD(__s, __field, __type) \
 static inline __type elf_##__s##_##__field(struct elf_image *elf, void *arg) { \