diff --git a/tcl/target/imx8m.cfg b/tcl/target/imx8m.cfg
index 5d7acbed1..e3b7d24e1 100644
--- a/tcl/target/imx8m.cfg
+++ b/tcl/target/imx8m.cfg
@@ -52,7 +52,13 @@ for { set _core 0 } { $_core < $_cores } { incr _core } {
 }
 
 eval $_smp_command
-targets $_TARGETNAME.0
 
 # declare the auxiliary Cortex-M4 core on AP #4
-target create ${_CHIPNAME}.m4 cortex_m -dap ${_CHIPNAME}.dap -ap-num 4
+target create ${_CHIPNAME}.m4 cortex_m -dap ${_CHIPNAME}.dap -ap-num 4 \
+               -defer-examine
+
+# AHB-AP for direct access to soc bus
+target create ${_CHIPNAME}.ahb mem_ap -dap ${_CHIPNAME}.dap -ap-num 0
+
+# default target is A53 core 0
+targets $_TARGETNAME.0