diff --git a/cmd/extension_board.c b/cmd/extension_board.c
index f94abd612d5..f7685d47b8b 100644
--- a/cmd/extension_board.c
+++ b/cmd/extension_board.c
@@ -80,8 +80,7 @@ static int do_extension_list(struct cmd_tbl *cmdtp, int flag,
 	return CMD_RET_SUCCESS;
 }
 
-static int do_extension_scan(struct cmd_tbl *cmdtp, int flag,
-			     int argc, char *const argv[])
+static int extension_scan(bool show)
 {
 	struct extension *extension, *next;
 	int extension_num;
@@ -91,12 +90,23 @@ static int do_extension_scan(struct cmd_tbl *cmdtp, int flag,
 		free(extension);
 	}
 	extension_num = extension_board_scan(&extension_list);
+	if (show && extension_num >= 0)
+		printf("Found %d extension board(s).\n", extension_num);
 
+	/* either the number of extensions, or -ve for error */
+	return extension_num;
+}
+
+
+static int do_extension_scan(struct cmd_tbl *cmdtp, int flag,
+			     int argc, char *const argv[])
+{
+	int extension_num;
+
+	extension_num = extension_scan(true);
 	if (extension_num < 0)
 		return CMD_RET_FAILURE;
 
-	printf("Found %d extension board(s).\n", extension_num);
-
 	return CMD_RET_SUCCESS;
 }