diff --git a/tcl/target/imx8m.cfg b/tcl/target/imx8m.cfg
index 33149540a..5d7acbed1 100644
--- a/tcl/target/imx8m.cfg
+++ b/tcl/target/imx8m.cfg
@@ -53,3 +53,6 @@ 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