--- a/drivers/mtd/devices/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/mtd/devices/Kconfig
@@ -102,6 +102,14 @@ config MTD_SPEAR_SMI
 	help
 	  This enable SNOR support on SPEAR platforms using SMI controller
 
+config M25PXX_PREFER_SMALL_SECTOR_ERASE
+	bool "Prefer small sector erase"
+	depends on MTD_M25P80
+	default y
+	help
+	  This option enables use of the small erase sectors if that is
+	  supported by the flash chip.
+
 config MTD_SST25L
 	tristate "Support SST25L (non JEDEC) SPI Flash chips"
 	depends on SPI_MASTER
--- a/drivers/mtd/devices/m25p80.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/devices/m25p80.c
@@ -82,6 +82,12 @@
 
 #define JEDEC_MFR(_jedec_id)	((_jedec_id) >> 16)
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_M25PXX_PREFER_SMALL_SECTOR_ERASE
+#define PREFER_SMALL_SECTOR_ERASE 1
+#else
+#define PREFER_SMALL_SECTOR_ERASE 0
+#endif
+
 /****************************************************************************/
 
 struct m25p {
@@ -1032,7 +1038,7 @@ static int m25p_probe(struct spi_device 
 		flash->mtd._write = m25p80_write;
 
 	/* prefer "small sector" erase if possible */
-	if (info->flags & SECT_4K) {
+	if (PREFER_SMALL_SECTOR_ERASE && (info->flags & SECT_4K)) {
 		flash->erase_opcode = OPCODE_BE_4K;
 		flash->mtd.erasesize = 4096;
 	} else if (info->flags & SECT_4K_PMC) {
