diff --git a/arch/arm/src/samv7/Make.defs b/arch/arm/src/samv7/Make.defs
index 7fb0d809600..28e4dadc2d1 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/samv7/Make.defs
+++ b/arch/arm/src/samv7/Make.defs
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ include armv7-m/Make.defs
 
 CHIP_CSRCS  = sam_start.c sam_clockconfig.c sam_irq.c sam_allocateheap.c
 CHIP_CSRCS += sam_lowputc.c sam_serial.c sam_gpio.c sam_pck.c sam_uid.c
+CHIP_CSRCS += sam_systemreset.c
 
 # Configuration-dependent SAMV7 files
 
@@ -59,10 +60,6 @@ ifeq ($(CONFIG_SAMV7_RSWDT),y)
 CHIP_CSRCS += sam_rswdt.c
 endif
 
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_SAMV7_SYSTEMRESET),y)
-CHIP_CSRCS += sam_systemreset.c
-endif
-
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_SAMV7_1WIREDRIVER),y)
 CHIP_CSRCS += sam_1wire.c
 endif
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/samv7/sam_systemreset.c b/arch/arm/src/samv7/sam_systemreset.c
index 02d969ff092..0ae11e23355 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/samv7/sam_systemreset.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/samv7/sam_systemreset.c
@@ -33,13 +33,59 @@
 
 #include "arm_internal.h"
 #include "hardware/sam_rstc.h"
-
-#ifdef CONFIG_SAMV7_SYSTEMRESET
+#include "sam_systemreset.h"
 
 /****************************************************************************
  * Public Functions
  ****************************************************************************/
 
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Name: sam_get_reset_cause
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *   Get cause of the last CPU reset. This is done by reading reset status
+ *   registger.
+ *
+ * Returned Value:
+ *   CPU reset cause in form of macros defined in sam_systemreset.h. This is
+ *   to avoid passing boardctl dependent structure to architecture layer.
+ *   Board level specific code should include sam_systemreset.h and set
+ *   boardctl result according to that. -1 is returned in case of invalid
+ *   value in status register.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+int sam_get_reset_cause(void)
+{
+  int ret;
+  uint32_t rstsr;
+
+  rstsr = getreg32(SAM_RSTC_SR);
+  switch (rstsr & RSTC_SR_RSTTYP_MASK)
+    {
+      case RSTC_SR_RSTTYP_PWRUP:
+        ret = SAMV7_RESET_PWRUP;
+        break;
+      case RSTC_SR_RSTTYP_BACKUP:
+        ret =  SAMV7_RESET_BACKUP;
+        break;
+      case RSTC_SR_RSTTYP_WDOG:
+        ret =  SAMV7_RESET_WDOG;
+        break;
+      case RSTC_SR_RSTTYP_SWRST:
+        ret =  SAMV7_RESET_SWRST;
+        break;
+      case RSTC_SR_RSTTYP_NRST:
+        ret = SAMV7_RESET_NRST;
+        break;
+      default:
+        ret = -1;
+        break;
+    }
+
+  return ret;
+}
+
 /****************************************************************************
  * Name: up_systemreset
  *
@@ -48,6 +94,7 @@
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SAMV7_SYSTEMRESET
 void up_systemreset(void)
 {
   uint32_t rstcr;
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/samv7/sam_systemreset.h b/arch/arm/src/samv7/sam_systemreset.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d64c193e5d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/arch/arm/src/samv7/sam_systemreset.h
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+/****************************************************************************
+ * arch/arm/src/samv7/sam_systemreset.h
+ *
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more
+ * contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with
+ * this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.  The
+ * ASF licenses this file to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+ * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with the
+ * License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+ * WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.  See the
+ * License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ * under the License.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+#ifndef __ARCH_ARM_SRC_SAMV7_SAM_SYSTEMRESET_H
+#define __ARCH_ARM_SRC_SAMV7_SAM_SYSTEMRESET_H
+
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Included Files
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Pre-processor Definitions
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+#define SAMV7_RESET_PWRUP       1
+#define SAMV7_RESET_BACKUP      2
+#define SAMV7_RESET_WDOG        3
+#define SAMV7_RESET_SWRST       4
+#define SAMV7_RESET_NRST        5
+
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Public Function Prototypes
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Name: sam_get_reset_cause
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *   Get cause of the last CPU reset. This is done by reading reset status
+ *   registger.
+ *
+ * Returned Value:
+ *   CPU reset cause in form of macros defined in sam_systemreset.h. This is
+ *   to avoid passing boardctl dependent structure to architecture layer.
+ *   Board level specific code should include sam_systemreset.h and set
+ *   boardctl result according to that. -1 is returned in case of invalid
+ *   value in status register.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+int sam_get_reset_cause(void);
+
+#endif /* __ARCH_ARM_SRC_SAMV7_SAM_SYSTEMRESET_H */