diff --git a/MAINTAINERS b/MAINTAINERS
index 7d5d05320c0..35209e73af5 100644
--- a/MAINTAINERS
+++ b/MAINTAINERS
@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@ F:	arch/arm/include/asm/mach-imx/
 F:	board/freescale/*mx*/
 F:	board/freescale/common/
 F:	drivers/serial/serial_mxc.c
+F:	include/imx_container.h
 
 ARM HISILICON
 M:	Peter Griffin <peter.griffin@linaro.org>
diff --git a/arch/arm/include/asm/mach-imx/ahab.h b/arch/arm/include/asm/mach-imx/ahab.h
index 4222e3db278..4884f056251 100644
--- a/arch/arm/include/asm/mach-imx/ahab.h
+++ b/arch/arm/include/asm/mach-imx/ahab.h
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #ifndef __IMX_AHAB_H__
 #define __IMX_AHAB_H__
 
-#include <asm/mach-imx/image.h>
+#include <imx_container.h>
 
 int ahab_auth_cntr_hdr(struct container_hdr *container, u16 length);
 int ahab_auth_release(void);
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-imx/cmd_dek.c b/arch/arm/mach-imx/cmd_dek.c
index 6fa5b41fcd3..2f389dbe8df 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-imx/cmd_dek.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-imx/cmd_dek.c
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@
 #include <mapmem.h>
 #include <tee.h>
 #ifdef CONFIG_IMX_SECO_DEK_ENCAP
+#include <imx_container.h>
 #include <firmware/imx/sci/sci.h>
-#include <asm/mach-imx/image.h>
 #endif
 #ifdef CONFIG_IMX_ELE_DEK_ENCAP
+#include <imx_container.h>
 #include <asm/mach-imx/ele_api.h>
-#include <asm/mach-imx/image.h>
 #endif
 
 #include <cpu_func.h>
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-imx/ele_ahab.c b/arch/arm/mach-imx/ele_ahab.c
index 6a1ad198f89..295c055ad0a 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-imx/ele_ahab.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-imx/ele_ahab.c
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@
 #include <common.h>
 #include <command.h>
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <imx_container.h>
 #include <asm/io.h>
 #include <asm/mach-imx/ele_api.h>
 #include <asm/mach-imx/sys_proto.h>
 #include <asm/arch-imx/cpu.h>
 #include <asm/arch/sys_proto.h>
-#include <asm/mach-imx/image.h>
 #include <console.h>
 #include <cpu_func.h>
 #include <asm/global_data.h>
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-imx/image-container.c b/arch/arm/mach-imx/image-container.c
index eff9e0c4597..ebc8021d7cc 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-imx/image-container.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-imx/image-container.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 #include <common.h>
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <imx_container.h>
 #include <log.h>
 #include <malloc.h>
 #include <asm/io.h>
@@ -12,7 +13,6 @@
 #include <spi_flash.h>
 #include <spl.h>
 #include <nand.h>
-#include <asm/mach-imx/image.h>
 #include <asm/arch/sys_proto.h>
 #include <asm/mach-imx/boot_mode.h>
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-imx/imx8/ahab.c b/arch/arm/mach-imx/imx8/ahab.c
index 44ea63584aa..994becccefd 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-imx/imx8/ahab.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-imx/imx8/ahab.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <common.h>
 #include <command.h>
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <imx_container.h>
 #include <log.h>
 #include <asm/global_data.h>
 #include <asm/io.h>
@@ -13,7 +14,6 @@
 #include <asm/mach-imx/sys_proto.h>
 #include <asm/arch-imx/cpu.h>
 #include <asm/arch/sys_proto.h>
-#include <asm/mach-imx/image.h>
 #include <console.h>
 #include <cpu_func.h>
 #include "u-boot/sha256.h"
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-imx/parse-container.c b/arch/arm/mach-imx/parse-container.c
index d57f25df6dc..c29cb15f55e 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-imx/parse-container.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-imx/parse-container.c
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@
 #include <common.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <imx_container.h>
 #include <log.h>
 #include <spl.h>
-#include <asm/mach-imx/image.h>
 #ifdef CONFIG_AHAB_BOOT
 #include <asm/mach-imx/ahab.h>
 #endif
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-imx/spl_imx_romapi.c b/arch/arm/mach-imx/spl_imx_romapi.c
index b51061b987b..8816566b364 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-imx/spl_imx_romapi.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-imx/spl_imx_romapi.c
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@
 #include <common.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <image.h>
+#include <imx_container.h>
 #include <log.h>
 #include <asm/global_data.h>
 #include <linux/libfdt.h>
 #include <spl.h>
-#include <asm/mach-imx/image.h>
 #include <asm/arch/sys_proto.h>
 
 DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
@@ -111,7 +111,8 @@ static int spl_romapi_load_image_seekable(struct spl_image_info *spl_image,
 		load.read = spl_romapi_read_seekable;
 		load.priv = &pagesize;
 		return spl_load_simple_fit(spl_image, &load, offset / pagesize, header);
-	} else if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_LOAD_IMX_CONTAINER)) {
+	} else if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_LOAD_IMX_CONTAINER) &&
+		   valid_container_hdr((void *)header)) {
 		struct spl_load_info load;
 
 		memset(&load, 0, sizeof(load));
diff --git a/common/spl/spl_mmc.c b/common/spl/spl_mmc.c
index 02ad32a23e0..67c7ae34a58 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl_mmc.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl_mmc.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <mmc.h>
 #include <image.h>
+#include <imx_container.h>
 
 static int mmc_load_legacy(struct spl_image_info *spl_image,
 			   struct spl_boot_device *bootdev,
@@ -108,7 +109,8 @@ int mmc_load_image_raw_sector(struct spl_image_info *spl_image,
 		load.bl_len = mmc->read_bl_len;
 		load.read = h_spl_load_read;
 		ret = spl_load_simple_fit(spl_image, &load, sector, header);
-	} else if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_LOAD_IMX_CONTAINER)) {
+	} else if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_LOAD_IMX_CONTAINER) &&
+		   valid_container_hdr((void *)header)) {
 		struct spl_load_info load;
 
 		load.dev = mmc;
diff --git a/common/spl/spl_nand.c b/common/spl/spl_nand.c
index 6cc34004f49..07916bedbb9 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl_nand.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl_nand.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <config.h>
 #include <fdt_support.h>
 #include <image.h>
+#include <imx_container.h>
 #include <log.h>
 #include <spl.h>
 #include <asm/io.h>
@@ -99,7 +100,8 @@ static int spl_nand_load_element(struct spl_image_info *spl_image,
 		load.bl_len = bl_len;
 		load.read = spl_nand_fit_read;
 		return spl_load_simple_fit(spl_image, &load, offset / bl_len, header);
-	} else if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_LOAD_IMX_CONTAINER)) {
+	} else if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_LOAD_IMX_CONTAINER) &&
+		   valid_container_hdr((void *)header)) {
 		struct spl_load_info load;
 
 		load.dev = NULL;
diff --git a/common/spl/spl_nor.c b/common/spl/spl_nor.c
index c141a9ae629..dd447982071 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl_nor.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl_nor.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 #include <common.h>
 #include <image.h>
+#include <imx_container.h>
 #include <log.h>
 #include <spl.h>
 
@@ -102,7 +103,8 @@ static int spl_nor_load_image(struct spl_image_info *spl_image,
 					   (void *)header);
 	}
 #endif
-	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_LOAD_IMX_CONTAINER)) {
+	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_LOAD_IMX_CONTAINER) &&
+	    valid_container_hdr((void *)header)) {
 		load.bl_len = 1;
 		load.read = spl_nor_load_read;
 		return spl_load_imx_container(spl_image, &load,
diff --git a/common/spl/spl_spi.c b/common/spl/spl_spi.c
index d69069a75bf..1427c9478c0 100644
--- a/common/spl/spl_spi.c
+++ b/common/spl/spl_spi.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 #include <common.h>
 #include <image.h>
+#include <imx_container.h>
 #include <log.h>
 #include <spi.h>
 #include <spi_flash.h>
@@ -153,7 +154,8 @@ static int spl_spi_load_image(struct spl_image_info *spl_image,
 			err = spl_load_simple_fit(spl_image, &load,
 						  payload_offs,
 						  header);
-		} else if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_LOAD_IMX_CONTAINER)) {
+		} else if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_LOAD_IMX_CONTAINER) &&
+			   valid_container_hdr((void *)header)) {
 			struct spl_load_info load;
 
 			load.dev = flash;
diff --git a/configs/deneb_defconfig b/configs/deneb_defconfig
index 82869e4e0f9..ee2478aa0bb 100644
--- a/configs/deneb_defconfig
+++ b/configs/deneb_defconfig
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ CONFIG_SPL_HAS_BSS_LINKER_SECTION=y
 CONFIG_SPL_BSS_START_ADDR=0x128000
 CONFIG_SPL_BSS_MAX_SIZE=0x1000
 CONFIG_SPL_BOARD_INIT=y
+# CONFIG_SPL_RAW_IMAGE_SUPPORT is not set
+# CONFIG_SPL_LEGACY_IMAGE_FORMAT is not set
 CONFIG_SPL_SYS_MALLOC_SIMPLE=y
 # CONFIG_SPL_SHARES_INIT_SP_ADDR is not set
 CONFIG_SPL_SYS_MALLOC=y
diff --git a/configs/giedi_defconfig b/configs/giedi_defconfig
index b56b736c436..5e403c90c8c 100644
--- a/configs/giedi_defconfig
+++ b/configs/giedi_defconfig
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ CONFIG_SPL_HAS_BSS_LINKER_SECTION=y
 CONFIG_SPL_BSS_START_ADDR=0x128000
 CONFIG_SPL_BSS_MAX_SIZE=0x1000
 CONFIG_SPL_BOARD_INIT=y
+# CONFIG_SPL_RAW_IMAGE_SUPPORT is not set
+# CONFIG_SPL_LEGACY_IMAGE_FORMAT is not set
 CONFIG_SPL_SYS_MALLOC_SIMPLE=y
 # CONFIG_SPL_SHARES_INIT_SP_ADDR is not set
 CONFIG_SPL_SYS_MALLOC=y
diff --git a/configs/imx8qm_mek_defconfig b/configs/imx8qm_mek_defconfig
index b9083b0453f..4c5206306ee 100644
--- a/configs/imx8qm_mek_defconfig
+++ b/configs/imx8qm_mek_defconfig
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ CONFIG_SPL_HAS_BSS_LINKER_SECTION=y
 CONFIG_SPL_BSS_START_ADDR=0x128000
 CONFIG_SPL_BSS_MAX_SIZE=0x1000
 CONFIG_SPL_BOARD_INIT=y
+# CONFIG_SPL_RAW_IMAGE_SUPPORT is not set
+# CONFIG_SPL_LEGACY_IMAGE_FORMAT is not set
 CONFIG_SPL_SYS_MALLOC_SIMPLE=y
 # CONFIG_SPL_SHARES_INIT_SP_ADDR is not set
 CONFIG_SPL_SYS_MALLOC=y
diff --git a/configs/imx8qxp_mek_defconfig b/configs/imx8qxp_mek_defconfig
index f516b0b5557..f312d3945fb 100644
--- a/configs/imx8qxp_mek_defconfig
+++ b/configs/imx8qxp_mek_defconfig
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ CONFIG_SPL_HAS_BSS_LINKER_SECTION=y
 CONFIG_SPL_BSS_START_ADDR=0x128000
 CONFIG_SPL_BSS_MAX_SIZE=0x1000
 CONFIG_SPL_BOARD_INIT=y
+# CONFIG_SPL_RAW_IMAGE_SUPPORT is not set
+# CONFIG_SPL_LEGACY_IMAGE_FORMAT is not set
 CONFIG_SPL_SYS_MALLOC_SIMPLE=y
 # CONFIG_SPL_SHARES_INIT_SP_ADDR is not set
 CONFIG_SPL_SYS_MALLOC=y
diff --git a/drivers/usb/gadget/f_sdp.c b/drivers/usb/gadget/f_sdp.c
index 2b3a9c5fd4c..ee9384fb37e 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/gadget/f_sdp.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/gadget/f_sdp.c
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include <spl.h>
 #include <image.h>
 #include <imximage.h>
+#include <imx_container.h>
 #include <watchdog.h>
 
 #define HID_REPORT_ID_MASK	0x000000ff
@@ -852,7 +853,8 @@ static int sdp_handle_in_ep(struct spl_image_info *spl_image,
 				return SDP_EXIT;
 			}
 #endif
-			if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_LOAD_IMX_CONTAINER)) {
+			if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_LOAD_IMX_CONTAINER) &&
+			    valid_container_hdr((void *)header)) {
 				struct spl_load_info load;
 
 				load.dev = header;
diff --git a/arch/arm/include/asm/mach-imx/image.h b/include/imx_container.h
similarity index 100%
rename from arch/arm/include/asm/mach-imx/image.h
rename to include/imx_container.h
