diff --git a/drivers/clk/microchip/mpfs_clk_periph.c b/drivers/clk/microchip/mpfs_clk_periph.c
index e23eb552c3..ddeccb9145 100644
--- a/drivers/clk/microchip/mpfs_clk_periph.c
+++ b/drivers/clk/microchip/mpfs_clk_periph.c
@@ -114,13 +114,27 @@ static ulong mpfs_periph_clk_recalc_rate(struct clk *hw)
 		.periph.flags = _flags,			\
 	}
 
+/*
+ * Critical clocks:
+ * - CLK_ENVM: reserved by hart software services (hss) superloop monitor/m mode interrupt
+ *   trap handler
+ * - CLK_MMUART0: reserved by the hss
+ * - CLK_DDRC: provides clock to the ddr subsystem
+ * - CLK_RTC: the onboard RTC's AHB bus clock must be kept running as the rtc will stop
+ *   if the AHB interface clock is disabled
+ * - CLK_FICx: these provide the processor side clocks to the "FIC" (Fabric InterConnect)
+ *   clock domain crossers which provide the interface to the FPGA fabric. Disabling them
+ *   causes the FPGA fabric to go into reset.
+ * - CLK_ATHENA: The athena clock is FIC4, which is reserved for the Athena TeraFire.
+ */
+
 static struct mpfs_periph_hw_clock mpfs_periph_clks[] = {
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_ENVM, "clk_periph_envm", CLK_AHB, 0, CLK_IS_CRITICAL),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_MAC0, "clk_periph_mac0", CLK_AHB, 1, 0),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_MAC1, "clk_periph_mac1", CLK_AHB, 2, 0),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_MMC, "clk_periph_mmc", CLK_AHB, 3, 0),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_TIMER, "clk_periph_timer", CLK_RTCREF, 4, 0),
-	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_MMUART0, "clk_periph_mmuart0", CLK_AHB, 5, 0),
+	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_MMUART0, "clk_periph_mmuart0", CLK_AHB, 5, CLK_IS_CRITICAL),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_MMUART1, "clk_periph_mmuart1", CLK_AHB, 6, 0),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_MMUART2, "clk_periph_mmuart2", CLK_AHB, 7, 0),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_MMUART3, "clk_periph_mmuart3", CLK_AHB, 8, 0),
@@ -132,17 +146,17 @@ static struct mpfs_periph_hw_clock mpfs_periph_clks[] = {
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_CAN0, "clk_periph_can0", CLK_AHB, 14, 0),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_CAN1, "clk_periph_can1", CLK_AHB, 15, 0),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_USB, "clk_periph_usb", CLK_AHB, 16, 0),
-	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_RTC, "clk_periph_rtc", CLK_AHB, 18, 0),
+	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_RTC, "clk_periph_rtc", CLK_AHB, 18, CLK_IS_CRITICAL),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_QSPI, "clk_periph_qspi", CLK_AHB, 19, 0),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_GPIO0, "clk_periph_gpio0", CLK_AHB, 20, 0),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_GPIO1, "clk_periph_gpio1", CLK_AHB, 21, 0),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_GPIO2, "clk_periph_gpio2", CLK_AHB, 22, 0),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_DDRC, "clk_periph_ddrc", CLK_AHB, 23, CLK_IS_CRITICAL),
-	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_FIC0, "clk_periph_fic0", CLK_AXI, 24, 0),
-	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_FIC1, "clk_periph_fic1", CLK_AXI, 25, 0),
-	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_FIC2, "clk_periph_fic2", CLK_AXI, 26, 0),
-	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_FIC3, "clk_periph_fic3", CLK_AXI, 27, 0),
-	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_ATHENA, "clk_periph_athena", CLK_AXI, 28, 0),
+	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_FIC0, "clk_periph_fic0", CLK_AXI, 24, CLK_IS_CRITICAL),
+	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_FIC1, "clk_periph_fic1", CLK_AXI, 25, CLK_IS_CRITICAL),
+	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_FIC2, "clk_periph_fic2", CLK_AXI, 26, CLK_IS_CRITICAL),
+	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_FIC3, "clk_periph_fic3", CLK_AXI, 27, CLK_IS_CRITICAL),
+	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_ATHENA, "clk_periph_athena", CLK_AXI, 28, CLK_IS_CRITICAL),
 	CLK_PERIPH(CLK_CFM, "clk_periph_cfm", CLK_AHB, 29, 0),
 };