diff --git a/arch/arm/Kconfig b/arch/arm/Kconfig
index 4c0ee58..adb020a 100644
--- a/arch/arm/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/arm/Kconfig
@@ -101,6 +101,18 @@
 
 	  To use this you need GCC version 4.0.0 or later.
 
+config THUMB2_BAREBOX
+	select ARM_ASM_UNIFIED
+	depends on CPU_V7
+	bool "Compile barebox in thumb-2 mode (read help)"
+	help
+	  This enables compilation of barebox in thumb-2 mode which generates
+	  ~25% smaller binaries. Arm Assembly code needs some fixups to be able
+	  to work correctly in thumb-2 mode. the barebox core should have these
+	  fixups since most assembly code is derived from the Kernel. However,
+	  your board lowlevel init code may break in thumb-2 mode. You have been
+	  warned.
+
 endmenu
 
 menu "Arm specific settings         "
diff --git a/arch/arm/Makefile b/arch/arm/Makefile
index 9926280..56f21ab 100644
--- a/arch/arm/Makefile
+++ b/arch/arm/Makefile
@@ -39,8 +39,15 @@
 CFLAGS_ABI	+=-funwind-tables
 endif
 
-CPPFLAGS += $(CFLAGS_ABI) $(arch-y) $(tune-y) -msoft-float
-AFLAGS   += -include asm/unified.h -msoft-float
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_THUMB2_BAREBOX),y)
+AFLAGS_AUTOIT	:=$(call as-option,-Wa$(comma)-mimplicit-it=always,-Wa$(comma)-mauto-it)
+AFLAGS_NOWARN	:=$(call as-option,-Wa$(comma)-mno-warn-deprecated,-Wa$(comma)-W)
+CFLAGS_THUMB2	:=-mthumb $(AFLAGS_AUTOIT) $(AFLAGS_NOWARN)
+AFLAGS_THUMB2	:=$(CFLAGS_THUMB2) -Wa$(comma)-mthumb
+endif
+
+CPPFLAGS += $(CFLAGS_ABI) $(arch-y) $(tune-y) -msoft-float $(CFLAGS_THUMB2)
+AFLAGS   += -include asm/unified.h -msoft-float $(AFLAGS_THUMB2)
 
 # Machine directory name.  This list is sorted alphanumerically
 # by CONFIG_* macro name.
diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/cpu.c b/arch/arm/cpu/cpu.c
index cf31e8b..71ef8c0 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/cpu.c
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/cpu.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <common.h>
+#include <init.h>
 #include <command.h>
 #include <cache.h>
 #include <asm/mmu.h>
@@ -89,3 +90,29 @@
 	);
 #endif
 }
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_THUMB2_BAREBOX
+static void thumb2_execute(void *func, int argc, char *argv[])
+{
+	/*
+	 * Switch back to arm mode before executing external
+	 * programs.
+	 */
+	__asm__ __volatile__ (
+		"mov r0, #0\n"
+		"mov r1, %0\n"
+		"mov r2, %1\n"
+		"bx %2\n"
+		:
+		: "r" (argc - 1), "r" (&argv[1]), "r" (func)
+		: "r0", "r1", "r2"
+	);
+}
+
+static int execute_init(void)
+{
+	do_execute = thumb2_execute;
+	return 0;
+}
+postcore_initcall(execute_init);
+#endif
diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/exceptions.S b/arch/arm/cpu/exceptions.S
index 6f35d40..c08537a 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/exceptions.S
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/exceptions.S
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@
  * exception handlers
  */
 	.section ".text","ax"
+	.arm
 
 	.align  5
 .globl undefined_instruction
diff --git a/arch/arm/cpu/start.c b/arch/arm/cpu/start.c
index 89aff1d..f65b46d 100644
--- a/arch/arm/cpu/start.c
+++ b/arch/arm/cpu/start.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 void __naked __section(.text_exceptions) exception_vectors(void)
 {
 	__asm__ __volatile__ (
+		".arm\n"
 		"b reset\n"				/* reset */
 #ifdef CONFIG_ARM_EXCEPTIONS
 		"ldr pc, =undefined_instruction\n"	/* undefined instruction */
diff --git a/arch/arm/include/asm/barebox-arm-head.h b/arch/arm/include/asm/barebox-arm-head.h
index fdbee8c..0dc3074 100644
--- a/arch/arm/include/asm/barebox-arm-head.h
+++ b/arch/arm/include/asm/barebox-arm-head.h
@@ -4,6 +4,17 @@
 static inline void barebox_arm_head(void)
 {
 	__asm__ __volatile__ (
+#ifdef CONFIG_THUMB2_BAREBOX
+		".arm\n"
+		"adr r9, 1f + 1\n"
+		"bx r9\n"
+		".thumb\n"
+		"1:\n"
+		"bl reset\n"
+		".rept 10\n"
+		"1: b 1b\n"
+		".endr\n"
+#else
 		"b reset\n"
 		"1: b 1b\n"
 		"1: b 1b\n"
@@ -12,6 +23,7 @@
 		"1: b 1b\n"
 		"1: b 1b\n"
 		"1: b 1b\n"
+#endif
 		".word 0x65726162\n"			/* 'bare' */
 		".word 0x00786f62\n"			/* 'box' */
 		".word _text\n"				/* text base. If copied there,
diff --git a/arch/arm/include/asm/unified.h b/arch/arm/include/asm/unified.h
index bc63116..4d855c8 100644
--- a/arch/arm/include/asm/unified.h
+++ b/arch/arm/include/asm/unified.h
@@ -24,10 +24,10 @@
 	.syntax unified
 #endif
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_THUMB2_KERNEL
+#ifdef CONFIG_THUMB2_BAREBOX
 
 #if __GNUC__ < 4
-#error Thumb-2 kernel requires gcc >= 4
+#error Thumb-2 barebox requires gcc >= 4
 #endif
 
 /* The CPSR bit describing the instruction set (Thumb) */
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 #endif
 #define BSYM(sym)	sym + 1
 
-#else	/* !CONFIG_THUMB2_KERNEL */
+#else	/* !CONFIG_THUMB2_BAREBOX */
 
 /* The CPSR bit describing the instruction set (ARM) */
 #define PSR_ISETSTATE	0
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
 #endif
 #define BSYM(sym)	sym
 
-#endif	/* CONFIG_THUMB2_KERNEL */
+#endif	/* CONFIG_THUMB2_BAREBOX */
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_ARM_ASM_UNIFIED
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/lib/armlinux.c b/arch/arm/lib/armlinux.c
index 85fe2b9..a167036 100644
--- a/arch/arm/lib/armlinux.c
+++ b/arch/arm/lib/armlinux.c
@@ -255,6 +255,7 @@
 {
 	void (*kernel)(int zero, int arch, void *params) = adr;
 	void *params = NULL;
+	int architecture;
 
 	if (oftree) {
 		printf("booting Linux kernel with devicetree\n");
@@ -272,5 +273,19 @@
 		__asm__ __volatile__("mcr p15, 0, %0, c1, c0" :: "r" (reg));
 	}
 
-	kernel(0, armlinux_get_architecture(), params);
+	architecture = armlinux_get_architecture();
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_THUMB2_BAREBOX
+	__asm__ __volatile__ (
+		"mov r0, #0\n"
+		"mov r1, %0\n"
+		"mov r2, %1\n"
+		"bx %2\n"
+		:
+		: "r" (architecture), "r" (params), "r" (kernel)
+		: "r0", "r1", "r2"
+	);
+#else
+	kernel(0, architecture, params);
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/commands/go.c b/commands/go.c
index 6082fe5..bc984c8 100644
--- a/commands/go.c
+++ b/commands/go.c
@@ -62,7 +62,11 @@
 	func = addr;
 
 	shutdown_barebox();
-	func(argc - 1, &argv[1]);
+
+	if (do_execute)
+		do_execute(func, argc - 1, &argv[1]);
+	else
+		func(argc - 1, &argv[1]);
 
 	/*
 	 * The application returned. Since we have shutdown barebox and
diff --git a/common/misc.c b/common/misc.c
index a0059c1..b31a45c 100644
--- a/common/misc.c
+++ b/common/misc.c
@@ -125,3 +125,6 @@
 #endif
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(perror);
+
+void (*do_execute)(void *func, int argc, char *argv[]);
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(do_execute);
diff --git a/include/common.h b/include/common.h
index d227875..d2347f8 100644
--- a/include/common.h
+++ b/include/common.h
@@ -146,6 +146,12 @@
 void start_barebox(void);
 void shutdown_barebox(void);
 
+/*
+ * architectures which have special calling conventions for
+ * executing programs should set this. Used by the 'go' command
+ */
+extern void (*do_execute)(void *func, int argc, char *argv[]);
+
 void arch_shutdown(void);
 
 int run_shell(void);