{
        struct k3_r5_rproc *kproc = rproc->priv;
        struct k3_r5_cluster *cluster = kproc->cluster;
-       struct k3_r5_core *core = kproc->core;
+       struct k3_r5_core *core = kproc->core, *core0, *core1;
        struct device *dev = kproc->dev;
        u32 ctrl = 0, cfg = 0, stat = 0;
        u64 boot_vec = 0;
        bool mem_init_dis;
        int ret;
 
+       /*
+        * R5 cores require to be powered on sequentially, core0 should be in
+        * higher power state than core1 in a cluster. So, wait for core0 to
+        * power up before proceeding to core1 and put timeout of 2sec. This
+        * waiting mechanism is necessary because rproc_auto_boot_callback() for
+        * core1 can be called before core0 due to thread execution order.
+        *
+        * By placing the wait mechanism here in .prepare() ops, this condition
+        * is enforced for rproc boot requests from sysfs as well.
+        */
+       core0 = list_first_entry(&cluster->cores, struct k3_r5_core, elem);
+       core1 = list_last_entry(&cluster->cores, struct k3_r5_core, elem);
+       if (cluster->mode == CLUSTER_MODE_SPLIT && core == core1 &&
+           !core0->released_from_reset) {
+               ret = wait_event_interruptible_timeout(cluster->core_transition,
+                                                      core0->released_from_reset,
+                                                      msecs_to_jiffies(2000));
+               if (ret <= 0) {
+                       dev_err(dev, "can not power up core1 before core0");
+                       return -EPERM;
+               }
+       }
+
        ret = ti_sci_proc_get_status(core->tsp, &boot_vec, &cfg, &ctrl, &stat);
        if (ret < 0)
                return ret;
                return ret;
        }
 
+       /*
+        * Notify all threads in the wait queue when core0 state has changed so
+        * that threads waiting for this condition can be executed.
+        */
+       core->released_from_reset = true;
+       if (core == core0)
+               wake_up_interruptible(&cluster->core_transition);
+
        /*
         * Newer IP revisions like on J7200 SoCs support h/w auto-initialization
         * of TCMs, so there is no need to perform the s/w memzero. This bit is
 {
        struct k3_r5_rproc *kproc = rproc->priv;
        struct k3_r5_cluster *cluster = kproc->cluster;
-       struct k3_r5_core *core = kproc->core;
+       struct k3_r5_core *core = kproc->core, *core0, *core1;
        struct device *dev = kproc->dev;
        int ret;
 
+       /*
+        * Ensure power-down of cores is sequential in split mode. Core1 must
+        * power down before Core0 to maintain the expected state. By placing
+        * the wait mechanism here in .unprepare() ops, this condition is
+        * enforced for rproc stop or shutdown requests from sysfs and device
+        * removal as well.
+        */
+       core0 = list_first_entry(&cluster->cores, struct k3_r5_core, elem);
+       core1 = list_last_entry(&cluster->cores, struct k3_r5_core, elem);
+       if (cluster->mode == CLUSTER_MODE_SPLIT && core == core0 &&
+           core1->released_from_reset) {
+               ret = wait_event_interruptible_timeout(cluster->core_transition,
+                                                      !core1->released_from_reset,
+                                                      msecs_to_jiffies(2000));
+               if (ret <= 0) {
+                       dev_err(dev, "can not power down core0 before core1");
+                       return -EPERM;
+               }
+       }
+
        /* Re-use LockStep-mode reset logic for Single-CPU mode */
        ret = (cluster->mode == CLUSTER_MODE_LOCKSTEP ||
               cluster->mode == CLUSTER_MODE_SINGLECPU) ?
        if (ret)
                dev_err(dev, "unable to disable cores, ret = %d\n", ret);
 
+       /*
+        * Notify all threads in the wait queue when core1 state has changed so
+        * that threads waiting for this condition can be executed.
+        */
+       core->released_from_reset = false;
+       if (core == core1)
+               wake_up_interruptible(&cluster->core_transition);
+
        return ret;
 }
 
        struct k3_r5_rproc *kproc = rproc->priv;
        struct k3_r5_cluster *cluster = kproc->cluster;
        struct device *dev = kproc->dev;
-       struct k3_r5_core *core0, *core;
+       struct k3_r5_core *core;
        u32 boot_addr;
        int ret;
 
                                goto unroll_core_run;
                }
        } else {
-               /* do not allow core 1 to start before core 0 */
-               core0 = list_first_entry(&cluster->cores, struct k3_r5_core,
-                                        elem);
-               if (core != core0 && core0->rproc->state == RPROC_OFFLINE) {
-                       dev_err(dev, "%s: can not start core 1 before core 0\n",
-                               __func__);
-                       return -EPERM;
-               }
-
                ret = k3_r5_core_run(core);
                if (ret)
                        return ret;
-
-               core->released_from_reset = true;
-               wake_up_interruptible(&cluster->core_transition);
        }
 
        return 0;
 {
        struct k3_r5_rproc *kproc = rproc->priv;
        struct k3_r5_cluster *cluster = kproc->cluster;
-       struct device *dev = kproc->dev;
-       struct k3_r5_core *core1, *core = kproc->core;
+       struct k3_r5_core *core = kproc->core;
        int ret;
 
        /* halt all applicable cores */
                        }
                }
        } else {
-               /* do not allow core 0 to stop before core 1 */
-               core1 = list_last_entry(&cluster->cores, struct k3_r5_core,
-                                       elem);
-               if (core != core1 && core1->rproc->state != RPROC_OFFLINE) {
-                       dev_err(dev, "%s: can not stop core 0 before core 1\n",
-                               __func__);
-                       ret = -EPERM;
-                       goto out;
-               }
-
                ret = k3_r5_core_halt(core);
                if (ret)
                        goto out;
                    cluster->mode == CLUSTER_MODE_SINGLECPU ||
                    cluster->mode == CLUSTER_MODE_SINGLECORE)
                        break;
-
-               /*
-                * R5 cores require to be powered on sequentially, core0
-                * should be in higher power state than core1 in a cluster
-                * So, wait for current core to power up before proceeding
-                * to next core and put timeout of 2sec for each core.
-                *
-                * This waiting mechanism is necessary because
-                * rproc_auto_boot_callback() for core1 can be called before
-                * core0 due to thread execution order.
-                */
-               ret = wait_event_interruptible_timeout(cluster->core_transition,
-                                                      core->released_from_reset,
-                                                      msecs_to_jiffies(2000));
-               if (ret <= 0) {
-                       dev_err(dev,
-                               "Timed out waiting for %s core to power up!\n",
-                               rproc->name);
-                       goto out;
-               }
        }
 
        return 0;