diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f88240e..3dff0e8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
  - Enhanced [UltraCIC_C](https://github.com/jago85/UltraCIC_C) emulation with automatic region switching and programmable seed/checksum values
  - PC app for communicating with flashcart (game/save data upload/download, feature enable control and debug terminal)
  - [UNFLoader](https://github.com/buu342/N64-UNFLoader) support
- - Initial board programming via UART header on board or dedicated JTAG/SWD interfaces
- - Software and firmware update via USB interface
+ - Initial programming via UART header or dedicated JTAG/SWD interfaces
+ - Software and firmware updatable via USB interface
  - 3D printable plastic shell
 
 ---
diff --git a/sw/bootloader/Makefile b/sw/bootloader/Makefile
index 2e8257b..145d929 100644
--- a/sw/bootloader/Makefile
+++ b/sw/bootloader/Makefile
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/bootloader.elf: $(OBJS) N64.ld
 $(BUILD_DIR)/bootloader.bin: $(BUILD_DIR)/bootloader.elf tools/strip.py
 	@$(OBJCOPY) -O binary $< $@
 	@chksum64 $@ > /dev/null
-	@$(PYTHON) tools/strip.py $@
+	@$(PYTHON) tools/strip.py $@ 1024
 
 $(BUILD_DIR)/bootloader.hex: $(BUILD_DIR)/bootloader.bin
 	@$(OBJCOPY) -I binary -O ihex $< $@
diff --git a/sw/bootloader/N64.ld b/sw/bootloader/N64.ld
index a44e160..5044985 100644
--- a/sw/bootloader/N64.ld
+++ b/sw/bootloader/N64.ld
@@ -45,6 +45,12 @@ SECTIONS {
         _ebss = .;
     } > ram
 
+    .fill : {
+        FILL(0xFF);
+        BYTE(0xFF);
+        . = ORIGIN(rom) + LENGTH(rom);
+    } > rom
+
     _sheap = .;
     . = ORIGIN(ram) + LENGTH(ram) - __exception_stack_size - __stack_size;
     _eheap = .;
@@ -55,13 +61,6 @@ SECTIONS {
     . += __stack_size;
     _sp = .;
 
-    .fill : {
-        . = ALIGN(1024) - 4;
-        LONG(0xDEADBEEF);
-        FILL(0xFFFFFFFF);
-        . = ORIGIN(rom) + LENGTH(rom);
-    } > rom
-
     /DISCARD/ : {
         *(.MIPS.*)
     }
diff --git a/sw/bootloader/tools/strip.py b/sw/bootloader/tools/strip.py
index 0693835..568e0ed 100644
--- a/sw/bootloader/tools/strip.py
+++ b/sw/bootloader/tools/strip.py
@@ -5,18 +5,21 @@ import sys
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    if (len(sys.argv) != 2):
-        print(f"Usage: python {sys.argv[0]} file_path")
+    if (len(sys.argv) != 3):
+        print(f"Usage: python {sys.argv[0]} file_path align")
         sys.exit(1)
 
     file = sys.argv[1]
+    align = int(sys.argv[2], base=0)
 
     try:
         data = b''
         with open(file, 'rb') as f:
-            data = f.read()
+            data = f.read().strip(b'\xFF')
         with open(file, 'wb') as f:
-            f.write(data.strip(b'\xFF'))
+            modulo = (len(data) % align) if (align > 0) else 0
+            data += b'\xFF' * ((align - modulo) if (modulo != 0) else 0)
+            f.write(data)
     except FileNotFoundError:
         print(f"Couldn't open file \"{file}\"")
         sys.exit(2)
diff --git a/sw/controller/app.ld b/sw/controller/app.ld
index bea3e0c..dbcb537 100644
--- a/sw/controller/app.ld
+++ b/sw/controller/app.ld
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ MEMORY {
 
 ENTRY(Reset_Handler)
 
+__bin_align = 8;
+
 SECTIONS {
     .loader : {
         . = ALIGN(4);
@@ -53,7 +55,8 @@ SECTIONS {
         . = ALIGN(4);
         *(.rodata)
         *(.rodata*)
-        . = ALIGN(4);
+        FILL(0xFF);
+        . = ALIGN(__bin_align);
     } > code
 
     _estack = ORIGIN(ram) + LENGTH(ram);
diff --git a/sw/controller/app.mk b/sw/controller/app.mk
index 6e67cdc..e2da4ec 100644
--- a/sw/controller/app.mk
+++ b/sw/controller/app.mk
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ EXE_NAME = app
 BUILD_DIR = build/app
 
 LD_SCRIPT = app.ld
-PAD_TO = 0x08008000
 
 SRC_FILES = \
 	app.S \
diff --git a/sw/controller/common.mk b/sw/controller/common.mk
index 5e6fdc3..b76e5ee 100644
--- a/sw/controller/common.mk
+++ b/sw/controller/common.mk
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/$(EXE_NAME).elf: $(OBJS) $(LD_SCRIPT)
 	@$(OBJDUMP) -S -D $@ > $(BUILD_DIR)/$(EXE_NAME).lst
 
 $(BUILD_DIR)/$(EXE_NAME).bin: $(BUILD_DIR)/$(EXE_NAME).elf
-	$(OBJCOPY) -O binary --gap-fill 0xFF --pad-to $(PAD_TO) $< $@
+	$(OBJCOPY) -O binary --gap-fill 0xFF $< $@
 
 $(BUILD_DIR)/$(EXE_NAME).hex: $(BUILD_DIR)/$(EXE_NAME).bin
 	@$(OBJCOPY) -I binary -O ihex $< $@
diff --git a/sw/controller/loader.mk b/sw/controller/loader.mk
index 0637f73..4773b3e 100644
--- a/sw/controller/loader.mk
+++ b/sw/controller/loader.mk
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ EXE_NAME = loader
 BUILD_DIR = build/loader
 
 LD_SCRIPT = loader.ld
-PAD_TO = 0x08001000
 
 SRC_FILES = \
 	loader.S \
diff --git a/sw/controller/primer.mk b/sw/controller/primer.mk
index 1abc92f..3d1dbcf 100644
--- a/sw/controller/primer.mk
+++ b/sw/controller/primer.mk
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ EXE_NAME = primer
 BUILD_DIR = build/primer
 
 LD_SCRIPT = primer.ld
-PAD_TO = 0x20002000
 
 SRC_FILES = \
 	primer.S \