diff --git a/esp8266/scripts/_boot.py b/esp8266/scripts/_boot.py
index 2b261fb475..7e38f03236 100644
--- a/esp8266/scripts/_boot.py
+++ b/esp8266/scripts/_boot.py
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ import builtins
 from flashbdev import bdev
 
 try:
-    vfs = uos.VfsFat(bdev, "")
+    if bdev:
+        vfs = uos.VfsFat(bdev, "")
 except OSError:
     import inisetup
     inisetup.check_bootsec()
diff --git a/esp8266/scripts/flashbdev.py b/esp8266/scripts/flashbdev.py
index 09223d8e7e..f1e85d923b 100644
--- a/esp8266/scripts/flashbdev.py
+++ b/esp8266/scripts/flashbdev.py
@@ -26,4 +26,7 @@ class FlashBdev:
         if op == 5:  # BP_IOCTL_SEC_SIZE
             return self.SEC_SIZE
 
-bdev = FlashBdev()
+if esp.flash_size() < 1024*1024:
+    bdev = None
+else:
+    bdev = FlashBdev()