diff --git a/kernel/main.c b/kernel/main.c
index df88e040c..100609933 100644
--- a/kernel/main.c
+++ b/kernel/main.c
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ PUBLIC int main(void)
 /* Start the ball rolling. */
   struct boot_image *ip;	/* boot image pointer */
   register struct proc *rp;	/* process pointer */
-  register struct priv *sp;	/* privilege structure pointer */
   register int i, j;
   int hdrindex;			/* index to array of a.out headers */
   phys_clicks text_base;
@@ -46,26 +45,7 @@ PUBLIC int main(void)
  
    DEBUGEXTRA(("main()\n"));
 
-  /* Clear the process table. Anounce each slot as empty and set up mappings 
-   * for proc_addr() and proc_nr() macros. Do the same for the table with 
-   * privilege structures for the system processes. 
-   */
-  for (rp = BEG_PROC_ADDR, i = -NR_TASKS; rp < END_PROC_ADDR; ++rp, ++i) {
-  	rp->p_rts_flags = RTS_SLOT_FREE;		/* initialize free slot */
-	rp->p_magic = PMAGIC;
-	rp->p_nr = i;				/* proc number from ptr */
-	rp->p_endpoint = _ENDPOINT(0, rp->p_nr); /* generation no. 0 */
-	rp->p_scheduler = NULL;			/* no user space scheduler */
-	rp->p_priority = 0;		        /* no priority */
-	rp->p_quantum_size_ms = 0;	        /* no quantum size */
-  }
-  for (sp = BEG_PRIV_ADDR, i = 0; sp < END_PRIV_ADDR; ++sp, ++i) {
-	sp->s_proc_nr = NONE;			/* initialize as free */
-	sp->s_id = (sys_id_t) i;		/* priv structure index */
-	ppriv_addr[i] = sp;			/* priv ptr from number */
-	sp->s_sig_mgr = NONE;			/* clear signal managers */
-	sp->s_bak_sig_mgr = NONE;
-  }
+   proc_init();
 
   /* Set up proc table entries for processes in boot image.  The stacks of the
    * kernel tasks are initialized to an array in data space.  The stacks
diff --git a/kernel/proc.c b/kernel/proc.c
index ecb12880d..8167bf458 100644
--- a/kernel/proc.c
+++ b/kernel/proc.c
@@ -79,6 +79,34 @@ FORWARD _PROTOTYPE( void enqueue_head, (struct proc *rp));
 		break;							\
 	}
 
+PUBLIC void proc_init(void)
+{
+	struct proc * rp;
+	struct priv *sp;
+	int i;
+
+	/* Clear the process table. Anounce each slot as empty and set up
+	 * mappings for proc_addr() and proc_nr() macros. Do the same for the
+	 * table with privilege structures for the system processes. 
+	 */
+	for (rp = BEG_PROC_ADDR, i = -NR_TASKS; rp < END_PROC_ADDR; ++rp, ++i) {
+		rp->p_rts_flags = RTS_SLOT_FREE;/* initialize free slot */
+		rp->p_magic = PMAGIC;
+		rp->p_nr = i;			/* proc number from ptr */
+		rp->p_endpoint = _ENDPOINT(0, rp->p_nr); /* generation no. 0 */
+		rp->p_scheduler = NULL;		/* no user space scheduler */
+		rp->p_priority = 0;		/* no priority */
+		rp->p_quantum_size_ms = 0;	/* no quantum size */
+	}
+	for (sp = BEG_PRIV_ADDR, i = 0; sp < END_PRIV_ADDR; ++sp, ++i) {
+		sp->s_proc_nr = NONE;		/* initialize as free */
+		sp->s_id = (sys_id_t) i;	/* priv structure index */
+		ppriv_addr[i] = sp;		/* priv ptr from number */
+		sp->s_sig_mgr = NONE;		/* clear signal managers */
+		sp->s_bak_sig_mgr = NONE;
+	}
+}
+
 /*===========================================================================*
  *				idle					     * 
  *===========================================================================*/
diff --git a/kernel/proto.h b/kernel/proto.h
index fb84aa51c..bdc7a8a18 100644
--- a/kernel/proto.h
+++ b/kernel/proto.h
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ _PROTOTYPE( __dead void minix_shutdown, (struct timer *tp)		);
 /* proc.c */
 
 _PROTOTYPE( int do_ipc, (reg_t r1, reg_t r2, reg_t r3)			);
+_PROTOTYPE( void proc_init, (void)					);
 _PROTOTYPE( int mini_notify, (const struct proc *src, endpoint_t dst)	);
 _PROTOTYPE( void enqueue, (struct proc *rp)				);
 _PROTOTYPE( void dequeue, (const struct proc *rp)			);