diff --git a/embassy-boot-nrf/src/lib.rs b/embassy-boot-nrf/src/lib.rs
index d53e78895..e5bc870b5 100644
--- a/embassy-boot-nrf/src/lib.rs
+++ b/embassy-boot-nrf/src/lib.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,13 @@ impl<const BUFFER_SIZE: usize> BootLoader<BUFFER_SIZE> {
     pub fn prepare<ACTIVE: NorFlash, DFU: NorFlash, STATE: NorFlash>(
         config: BootLoaderConfig<ACTIVE, DFU, STATE>,
     ) -> Self {
-        Self::try_prepare::<ACTIVE, DFU, STATE>(config).expect("Boot prepare error")
+        if let Ok(loader) = Self::try_prepare::<ACTIVE, DFU, STATE>(config) {
+            loader
+        } else {
+            // Use explicit panic instead of .expect() to ensure this gets routed via defmt/etc.
+            // properly
+            panic!("Boot prepare error")
+        }
     }
 
     /// Inspect the bootloader state and perform actions required before booting, such as swapping firmware
diff --git a/embassy-boot-rp/src/lib.rs b/embassy-boot-rp/src/lib.rs
index d0a393bed..3e1731f5e 100644
--- a/embassy-boot-rp/src/lib.rs
+++ b/embassy-boot-rp/src/lib.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,13 @@ impl<const BUFFER_SIZE: usize> BootLoader<BUFFER_SIZE> {
     pub fn prepare<ACTIVE: NorFlash, DFU: NorFlash, STATE: NorFlash>(
         config: BootLoaderConfig<ACTIVE, DFU, STATE>,
     ) -> Self {
-        Self::try_prepare::<ACTIVE, DFU, STATE>(config).expect("Boot prepare error")
+        if let Ok(loader) = Self::try_prepare::<ACTIVE, DFU, STATE>(config) {
+            loader
+        } else {
+            // Use explicit panic instead of .expect() to ensure this gets routed via defmt/etc.
+            // properly
+            panic!("Boot prepare error")
+        }
     }
 
     /// Inspect the bootloader state and perform actions required before booting, such as swapping firmware
diff --git a/embassy-boot-stm32/src/lib.rs b/embassy-boot-stm32/src/lib.rs
index 708441835..387cc0ce5 100644
--- a/embassy-boot-stm32/src/lib.rs
+++ b/embassy-boot-stm32/src/lib.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,13 @@ impl BootLoader {
     pub fn prepare<ACTIVE: NorFlash, DFU: NorFlash, STATE: NorFlash, const BUFFER_SIZE: usize>(
         config: BootLoaderConfig<ACTIVE, DFU, STATE>,
     ) -> Self {
-        Self::try_prepare::<ACTIVE, DFU, STATE, BUFFER_SIZE>(config).expect("Boot prepare error")
+        if let Ok(loader) = Self::try_prepare::<ACTIVE, DFU, STATE, BUFFER_SIZE>(config) {
+            loader
+        } else {
+            // Use explicit panic instead of .expect() to ensure this gets routed via defmt/etc.
+            // properly
+            panic!("Boot prepare error")
+        }
     }
 
     /// Inspect the bootloader state and perform actions required before booting, such as swapping firmware
diff --git a/embassy-boot/src/test_flash/asynch.rs b/embassy-boot/src/test_flash/asynch.rs
index 3ac9e71ab..c67f2495c 100644
--- a/embassy-boot/src/test_flash/asynch.rs
+++ b/embassy-boot/src/test_flash/asynch.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ where
     }
 
     fn create_partition<T: NorFlash>(mutex: &Mutex<NoopRawMutex, T>) -> Partition<NoopRawMutex, T> {
-        Partition::new(mutex, 0, mutex.try_lock().unwrap().capacity() as u32)
+        Partition::new(mutex, 0, unwrap!(mutex.try_lock()).capacity() as u32)
     }
 }