diff --git a/plat/common/aarch64/platform_helpers.S b/plat/common/aarch64/platform_helpers.S
index 797a936..8526752 100644
--- a/plat/common/aarch64/platform_helpers.S
+++ b/plat/common/aarch64/platform_helpers.S
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 #include <arch.h>
 #include <asm_macros.S>
+#include <console.h>
 #include <platform_def.h>
 
 	.weak	plat_report_exception
@@ -56,9 +57,63 @@
 	ret
 endfunc plat_report_exception
 
+#if MULTI_CONSOLE_API
 	/* -----------------------------------------------------
-	 * Placeholder function which should be redefined by
-	 * each platform.
+	 * int plat_crash_console_init(void)
+	 * Use normal console by default. Switch it to crash
+	 * mode so serial consoles become active again.
+	 * NOTE: This default implementation will only work for
+	 * crashes that occur after a normal console (marked
+	 * valid for the crash state) has been registered with
+	 * the console framework. To debug crashes that occur
+	 * earlier, the platform has to override these functions
+	 * with an implementation that initializes a console
+	 * driver with hardcoded parameters. See
+	 * docs/porting-guide.rst for more information.
+	 * -----------------------------------------------------
+	 */
+func plat_crash_console_init
+#if defined(IMAGE_BL1)
+	/*
+	 * BL1 code can possibly crash so early that the data segment is not yet
+	 * accessible. Don't risk undefined behavior by trying to run the normal
+	 * console framework. Platforms that want to debug BL1 will need to
+	 * override this with custom functions that can run from registers only.
+	 */
+	mov	x0, #0
+	ret
+#else	/* IMAGE_BL1 */
+	mov	x3, x30
+	mov	x0, #CONSOLE_FLAG_CRASH
+	bl	console_switch_state
+	mov	x0, #1
+	ret	x3
+#endif
+endfunc plat_crash_console_init
+
+	/* -----------------------------------------------------
+	 * void plat_crash_console_putc(int character)
+	 * Output through the normal console by default.
+	 * -----------------------------------------------------
+	 */
+func plat_crash_console_putc
+	b	console_putc
+endfunc plat_crash_console_putc
+
+	/* -----------------------------------------------------
+	 * void plat_crash_console_flush(void)
+	 * Flush normal console by default.
+	 * -----------------------------------------------------
+	 */
+func plat_crash_console_flush
+	b	console_flush
+endfunc plat_crash_console_flush
+
+#else	/* MULTI_CONSOLE_API */
+
+	/* -----------------------------------------------------
+	 * In the old API these are all no-op stubs that need to
+	 * be overridden by the platform to be useful.
 	 * -----------------------------------------------------
 	 */
 func plat_crash_console_init
@@ -66,23 +121,14 @@
 	ret
 endfunc plat_crash_console_init
 
-	/* -----------------------------------------------------
-	 * Placeholder function which should be redefined by
-	 * each platform.
-	 * -----------------------------------------------------
-	 */
 func plat_crash_console_putc
 	ret
 endfunc plat_crash_console_putc
 
-	/* -----------------------------------------------------
-	 * Placeholder function which should be redefined by
-	 * each platform.
-	 * -----------------------------------------------------
-	 */
 func plat_crash_console_flush
 	ret
 endfunc plat_crash_console_flush
+#endif
 
 	/* -----------------------------------------------------
 	 * Placeholder function which should be redefined by