diff --git a/package/base-files/files/lib/upgrade/nand.sh b/package/base-files/files/lib/upgrade/nand.sh
index f927c066da..a93c9acccd 100644
--- a/package/base-files/files/lib/upgrade/nand.sh
+++ b/package/base-files/files/lib/upgrade/nand.sh
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ nand_upgrade_tar() {
 	local has_env=0
 
 	[ "$kernel_length" != 0 -a -n "$kernel_mtd" ] && {
-		tar xf "$tar_file" ${board_dir}/kernel -O | mtd write - $CI_KERNPART
+		mtd erase $CI_KERNPART
 	}
 	[ "$kernel_length" = 0 -o ! -z "$kernel_mtd" ] && has_kernel=
 	[ "$CI_KERNPART" = "none" ] && has_kernel=
@@ -317,6 +317,10 @@ nand_upgrade_tar() {
 			ubiupdatevol /dev/$root_ubivol -s $rootfs_length -
 	}
 
+	[ "$kernel_length" != 0 -a -n "$kernel_mtd" ] && {
+		tar xf "$tar_file" ${board_dir}/kernel -O | \
+			mtd -n write - $CI_KERNPART
+	}
 	[ "$has_kernel" = "1" ] && {
 		local kern_ubivol="$( nand_find_volume $ubidev $CI_KERNPART )"
 		tar xf "$tar_file" ${board_dir}/kernel -O | \