diff --git a/x230/NEWS b/x230/NEWS
index 486d1c8..1503a07 100644
--- a/x230/NEWS
+++ b/x230/NEWS
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ skulls-x230 0.1.2 - unreleased
 ---------------------------------------
 This release includes the following changes:
 * update coreboot-sdk to version 1.53
+* increase RPi spi speed for flashing
 
 
 skulls-x230 0.1.1 - released 2019-01-18
diff --git a/x230/external_install_bottom.sh b/x230/external_install_bottom.sh
index efcc6da..e729dce 100755
--- a/x230/external_install_bottom.sh
+++ b/x230/external_install_bottom.sh
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ if [ ! "$have_flasher" -gt 0 ] ; then
 fi
 
 if [ ! "${rpi_frequency}" -gt 0 ] ; then
-	rpi_frequency=128
+	rpi_frequency=512
 fi
 
 programmer=""
diff --git a/x230/external_install_top.sh b/x230/external_install_top.sh
index 2bddd33..38754d0 100755
--- a/x230/external_install_top.sh
+++ b/x230/external_install_top.sh
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ if [ ! "$have_flasher" -gt 0 ] ; then
 fi
 
 if [ ! "${rpi_frequency}" -gt 0 ] ; then
-	rpi_frequency=128
+	rpi_frequency=512
 fi
 
 programmer=""