diff --git a/src/target/arm7_9_common.c b/src/target/arm7_9_common.c
index 6eade96a1..7687466f8 100644
--- a/src/target/arm7_9_common.c
+++ b/src/target/arm7_9_common.c
@@ -2476,11 +2476,28 @@ int arm7_9_write_memory_opt(struct target *target,
 	const uint8_t *buffer)
 {
 	struct arm7_9_common *arm7_9 = target_to_arm7_9(target);
+	int retval;
 
-	if (size == 4 && count > 32 && arm7_9->bulk_write_memory)
-		return arm7_9->bulk_write_memory(target, address, count, buffer);
-	else
-		return arm7_9_write_memory(target, address, size, count, buffer);
+	if (size == 4 && count > 32 && arm7_9->bulk_write_memory) {
+		/* Attempt to do a bulk write */
+		retval = arm7_9->bulk_write_memory(target, address, count, buffer);
+
+		if (retval == ERROR_OK)
+			return ERROR_OK;
+	}
+
+	return arm7_9->write_memory(target, address, size, count, buffer);
+}
+
+int arm7_9_write_memory_no_opt(struct target *target,
+	uint32_t address,
+	uint32_t size,
+	uint32_t count,
+	const uint8_t *buffer)
+{
+	struct arm7_9_common *arm7_9 = target_to_arm7_9(target);
+
+	return arm7_9->write_memory(target, address, size, count, buffer);
 }
 
 static int dcc_count;
@@ -2561,8 +2578,11 @@ int arm7_9_bulk_write_memory(struct target *target,
 	struct arm7_9_common *arm7_9 = target_to_arm7_9(target);
 	int i;
 
+	if (address % 4 != 0)
+		return ERROR_TARGET_UNALIGNED_ACCESS;
+
 	if (!arm7_9->dcc_downloads)
-		return target_write_memory(target, address, 4, count, buffer);
+		return ERROR_TARGET_RESOURCE_NOT_AVAILABLE;
 
 	/* regrab previously allocated working_area, or allocate a new one */
 	if (!arm7_9->dcc_working_area) {
@@ -2571,15 +2591,16 @@ int arm7_9_bulk_write_memory(struct target *target,
 		/* make sure we have a working area */
 		if (target_alloc_working_area(target, 24, &arm7_9->dcc_working_area) != ERROR_OK) {
 			LOG_INFO("no working area available, falling back to memory writes");
-			return target_write_memory(target, address, 4, count, buffer);
+			return ERROR_TARGET_RESOURCE_NOT_AVAILABLE;
 		}
 
 		/* copy target instructions to target endianness */
 		for (i = 0; i < 6; i++)
 			target_buffer_set_u32(target, dcc_code_buf + i*4, dcc_code[i]);
 
-		/* write DCC code to working area */
-		retval = target_write_memory(target,
+		/* write DCC code to working area, using the non-optimized
+		 * memory write to avoid ending up here again */
+		retval = arm7_9_write_memory_no_opt(target,
 				arm7_9->dcc_working_area->address, 4, 6, dcc_code_buf);
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK)
 			return retval;
diff --git a/src/target/arm7_9_common.h b/src/target/arm7_9_common.h
index 85e5ac045..5821e132b 100644
--- a/src/target/arm7_9_common.h
+++ b/src/target/arm7_9_common.h
@@ -119,6 +119,13 @@ struct arm7_9_common {
 	void (*pre_restore_context)(struct target *target);
 	/**< Callback function called before restoring the processor context */
 
+	/**
+	 * Variant specific memory write function that does not dispatch to bulk_write_memory.
+	 * Used as a fallback when bulk writes are unavailable, or for writing data needed to
+	 * do the bulk writes.
+	 */
+	int (*write_memory)(struct target *target, uint32_t address,
+			uint32_t size, uint32_t count, const uint8_t *buffer);
 	/**
 	 * Write target memory in multiples of 4 bytes, optimized for
 	 * writing large quantities of data.
@@ -160,6 +167,8 @@ int arm7_9_write_memory(struct target *target, uint32_t address,
 		uint32_t size, uint32_t count, const uint8_t *buffer);
 int arm7_9_write_memory_opt(struct target *target, uint32_t address,
 		uint32_t size, uint32_t count, const uint8_t *buffer);
+int arm7_9_write_memory_no_opt(struct target *target, uint32_t address,
+		uint32_t size, uint32_t count, const uint8_t *buffer);
 int arm7_9_bulk_write_memory(struct target *target, uint32_t address,
 		uint32_t count, const uint8_t *buffer);
 
diff --git a/src/target/arm7tdmi.c b/src/target/arm7tdmi.c
index 4c7cce19e..3dc001343 100644
--- a/src/target/arm7tdmi.c
+++ b/src/target/arm7tdmi.c
@@ -648,6 +648,7 @@ int arm7tdmi_init_arch_info(struct target *target,
 	arm7_9->enable_single_step = arm7_9_enable_eice_step;
 	arm7_9->disable_single_step = arm7_9_disable_eice_step;
 
+	arm7_9->write_memory = arm7_9_write_memory;
 	arm7_9->bulk_write_memory = arm7_9_bulk_write_memory;
 
 	arm7_9->post_debug_entry = NULL;
diff --git a/src/target/arm920t.c b/src/target/arm920t.c
index 98bd12f56..fbfa17036 100644
--- a/src/target/arm920t.c
+++ b/src/target/arm920t.c
@@ -740,17 +740,6 @@ int arm920t_write_memory(struct target *target, uint32_t address,
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
-int arm920t_write_memory_opt(struct target *target, uint32_t address,
-	uint32_t size, uint32_t count, const uint8_t *buffer)
-{
-	struct arm7_9_common *arm7_9 = target_to_arm7_9(target);
-
-	if (size == 4 && count > 32 && arm7_9->bulk_write_memory)
-		return arm7_9->bulk_write_memory(target, address, count, buffer);
-	else
-		return arm920t_write_memory(target, address, size, count, buffer);
-}
-
 /* EXPORTED to FA256 */
 int arm920t_soft_reset_halt(struct target *target)
 {
@@ -1708,7 +1697,7 @@ struct target_type arm920t_target = {
 	.get_gdb_reg_list = arm_get_gdb_reg_list,
 
 	.read_memory = arm920t_read_memory,
-	.write_memory = arm920t_write_memory_opt,
+	.write_memory = arm7_9_write_memory_opt,
 	.read_phys_memory = arm920t_read_phys_memory,
 	.write_phys_memory = arm920t_write_phys_memory,
 	.mmu = arm920_mmu,
diff --git a/src/target/arm920t.h b/src/target/arm920t.h
index 37745130f..71876a69b 100644
--- a/src/target/arm920t.h
+++ b/src/target/arm920t.h
@@ -60,8 +60,6 @@ int arm920t_read_memory(struct target *target,
 	uint32_t address, uint32_t size, uint32_t count, uint8_t *buffer);
 int arm920t_write_memory(struct target *target,
 	uint32_t address, uint32_t size, uint32_t count, const uint8_t *buffer);
-int arm920t_write_memory_opt(struct target *target,
-	uint32_t address, uint32_t size, uint32_t count, const uint8_t *buffer);
 int arm920t_post_debug_entry(struct target *target);
 void arm920t_pre_restore_context(struct target *target);
 int arm920t_get_ttb(struct target *target, uint32_t *result);
diff --git a/src/target/arm926ejs.c b/src/target/arm926ejs.c
index 1e0a57902..af806139c 100644
--- a/src/target/arm926ejs.c
+++ b/src/target/arm926ejs.c
@@ -656,17 +656,6 @@ int arm926ejs_write_memory(struct target *target, uint32_t address,
 	return retval;
 }
 
-int arm926ejs_write_memory_opt(struct target *target, uint32_t address,
-	uint32_t size, uint32_t count, const uint8_t *buffer)
-{
-	struct arm7_9_common *arm7_9 = target_to_arm7_9(target);
-
-	if (size == 4 && count > 32 && arm7_9->bulk_write_memory)
-		return arm7_9->bulk_write_memory(target, address, count, buffer);
-	else
-		return arm926ejs_write_memory(target, address, size, count, buffer);
-}
-
 static int arm926ejs_write_phys_memory(struct target *target,
 		uint32_t address, uint32_t size,
 		uint32_t count, const uint8_t *buffer)
@@ -819,7 +808,7 @@ struct target_type arm926ejs_target = {
 	.get_gdb_reg_list = arm_get_gdb_reg_list,
 
 	.read_memory = arm7_9_read_memory,
-	.write_memory = arm926ejs_write_memory_opt,
+	.write_memory = arm7_9_write_memory_opt,
 
 	.checksum_memory = arm_checksum_memory,
 	.blank_check_memory = arm_blank_check_memory,
diff --git a/src/target/arm926ejs.h b/src/target/arm926ejs.h
index 6dde4c6ff..cc19c9fc5 100644
--- a/src/target/arm926ejs.h
+++ b/src/target/arm926ejs.h
@@ -50,8 +50,6 @@ int arm926ejs_init_arch_info(struct target *target,
 int arm926ejs_arch_state(struct target *target);
 int arm926ejs_write_memory(struct target *target,
 		uint32_t address, uint32_t size, uint32_t count, const uint8_t *buffer);
-int arm926ejs_write_memory_opt(struct target *target,
-		uint32_t address, uint32_t size, uint32_t count, const uint8_t *buffer);
 int arm926ejs_soft_reset_halt(struct target *target);
 
 extern const struct command_registration arm926ejs_command_handlers[];
diff --git a/src/target/arm9tdmi.c b/src/target/arm9tdmi.c
index d93c15f7c..ac07534f3 100644
--- a/src/target/arm9tdmi.c
+++ b/src/target/arm9tdmi.c
@@ -752,6 +752,7 @@ int arm9tdmi_init_arch_info(struct target *target,
 	arm7_9->enable_single_step = arm9tdmi_enable_single_step;
 	arm7_9->disable_single_step = arm9tdmi_disable_single_step;
 
+	arm7_9->write_memory = arm7_9_write_memory;
 	arm7_9->bulk_write_memory = arm7_9_bulk_write_memory;
 
 	arm7_9->post_debug_entry = NULL;
diff --git a/src/target/fa526.c b/src/target/fa526.c
index a33b4a1c6..dfb29b8ee 100644
--- a/src/target/fa526.c
+++ b/src/target/fa526.c
@@ -284,6 +284,7 @@ static int fa526_init_arch_info_2(struct target *target,
 	arm7_9->enable_single_step = arm9tdmi_enable_single_step;
 	arm7_9->disable_single_step = arm9tdmi_disable_single_step;
 
+	arm7_9->write_memory = arm920t_write_memory;
 	arm7_9->bulk_write_memory = arm7_9_bulk_write_memory;
 
 	arm7_9->post_debug_entry = NULL;
@@ -368,7 +369,7 @@ struct target_type fa526_target = {
 	.get_gdb_reg_list = arm_get_gdb_reg_list,
 
 	.read_memory = arm920t_read_memory,
-	.write_memory = arm920t_write_memory_opt,
+	.write_memory = arm7_9_write_memory_opt,
 
 	.checksum_memory = arm_checksum_memory,
 	.blank_check_memory = arm_blank_check_memory,
diff --git a/src/target/feroceon.c b/src/target/feroceon.c
index d3037c543..acaa1b3b4 100644
--- a/src/target/feroceon.c
+++ b/src/target/feroceon.c
@@ -493,8 +493,11 @@ static int feroceon_bulk_write_memory(struct target *target,
 
 	uint32_t dcc_size = sizeof(dcc_code);
 
+	if (address % 4 != 0)
+		return ERROR_TARGET_UNALIGNED_ACCESS;
+
 	if (!arm7_9->dcc_downloads)
-		return target_write_memory(target, address, 4, count, buffer);
+		return ERROR_TARGET_RESOURCE_NOT_AVAILABLE;
 
 	/* regrab previously allocated working_area, or allocate a new one */
 	if (!arm7_9->dcc_working_area) {
@@ -503,15 +506,16 @@ static int feroceon_bulk_write_memory(struct target *target,
 		/* make sure we have a working area */
 		if (target_alloc_working_area(target, dcc_size, &arm7_9->dcc_working_area) != ERROR_OK) {
 			LOG_INFO("no working area available, falling back to memory writes");
-			return target_write_memory(target, address, 4, count, buffer);
+			return ERROR_TARGET_RESOURCE_NOT_AVAILABLE;
 		}
 
 		/* copy target instructions to target endianness */
 		for (i = 0; i < dcc_size/4; i++)
 			target_buffer_set_u32(target, dcc_code_buf + i*4, dcc_code[i]);
 
-		/* write DCC code to working area */
-		retval = target_write_memory(target,
+		/* write DCC code to working area, using the non-optimized
+		 * memory write to avoid ending up here again */
+		retval = arm7_9_write_memory_no_opt(target,
 				arm7_9->dcc_working_area->address, 4, dcc_size/4, dcc_code_buf);
 		if (retval != ERROR_OK)
 			return retval;
@@ -627,6 +631,10 @@ static int feroceon_target_create(struct target *target, Jim_Interp *interp)
 	arm926ejs_init_arch_info(target, arm926ejs, target->tap);
 	feroceon_common_setup(target);
 
+	struct arm *arm = target->arch_info;
+	struct arm7_9_common *arm7_9 = arm->arch_info;
+	arm7_9->write_memory = arm926ejs_write_memory;
+
 	/* the standard ARM926 methods don't always work (don't ask...) */
 	arm926ejs->read_cp15 = feroceon_read_cp15;
 	arm926ejs->write_cp15 = feroceon_write_cp15;
@@ -641,6 +649,10 @@ static int dragonite_target_create(struct target *target, Jim_Interp *interp)
 	arm966e_init_arch_info(target, arm966e, target->tap);
 	feroceon_common_setup(target);
 
+	struct arm *arm = target->arch_info;
+	struct arm7_9_common *arm7_9 = arm->arch_info;
+	arm7_9->write_memory = arm7_9_write_memory;
+
 	return ERROR_OK;
 }
 
@@ -697,7 +709,7 @@ struct target_type feroceon_target = {
 	.get_gdb_reg_list = arm_get_gdb_reg_list,
 
 	.read_memory = arm7_9_read_memory,
-	.write_memory = arm926ejs_write_memory_opt,
+	.write_memory = arm7_9_write_memory_opt,
 
 	.checksum_memory = arm_checksum_memory,
 	.blank_check_memory = arm_blank_check_memory,