You are right, it probably could. I should try compiling the fec-driver into the kernel and make it asynchronous. Should save a couple of milliseconds, and hopefully not delay entering user space.

Isn't network bring up done asynchronously in distros these days? I see my network interface not up and running even after the system is fully booted.

I'm just referring to the fec driver kernel module, not the user space software. But I might of course be wrong. I've done lots of iterations trying to optimize the boot time on this tiny embedded system, and it's not always easy to remember all details. It could be that the fec driver is asynchronously probed. I guess I have to try it again at some point. =)

“Async MMC and FEC (Ethernet) driver probes to do other initialization in parallel.”

I think it is already is