diff --git a/board/gateworks/venice/venice.c b/board/gateworks/venice/venice.c
index 803582c55b9..3067480e6ac 100644
--- a/board/gateworks/venice/venice.c
+++ b/board/gateworks/venice/venice.c
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ int board_late_init(void)
 		bootdev = 2;
 		break;
 	default:
+		bootdev = 2; /* assume SDHC3 (eMMC) if booting over SDP */
 		break;
 	}
 	if (bootdev != -1)