diff --git a/boot/bootutil/src/loader.c b/boot/bootutil/src/loader.c
index 94edba6..5d23be3 100644
--- a/boot/bootutil/src/loader.c
+++ b/boot/bootutil/src/loader.c
@@ -1566,7 +1566,14 @@
          * have been updated in the previous function call.
          */
         rc = boot_read_image_headers(state, !boot_status_is_reset(bs), bs);
+#ifdef MCUBOOT_BOOTSTRAP
+        /* When bootstrapping it's OK to not have image magic in the primary slot */
+        if (rc != 0 && (BOOT_CURR_IMG(state) != BOOT_PRIMARY_SLOT ||
+                boot_check_header_erased(state, BOOT_PRIMARY_SLOT) != 0)) {
+#else
         if (rc != 0) {
+#endif
+
             /* Continue with next image if there is one. */
             BOOT_LOG_WRN("Failed reading image headers; Image=%u",
                     BOOT_CURR_IMG(state));