diff --git a/kernel/main.c b/kernel/main.c
index fe28258c5..16b859e39 100644
--- a/kernel/main.c
+++ b/kernel/main.c
@@ -210,6 +210,9 @@ PUBLIC void main()
   /* Architecture-dependent initialization. */
   arch_init();
 
+  /* System and processes initialization */
+  system_init();
+
 #if SPROFILE
   sprofiling = 0;      /* we're not profiling until instructed to */
 #endif /* SPROFILE */
diff --git a/kernel/proto.h b/kernel/proto.h
index 7a89feacf..48a88453e 100644
--- a/kernel/proto.h
+++ b/kernel/proto.h
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ _PROTOTYPE( void send_sig, (int proc_nr, int sig_nr)			);
 _PROTOTYPE( void cause_sig, (proc_nr_t proc_nr, int sig_nr)			);
 _PROTOTYPE( void sig_delay_done, (struct proc *rp)			);
 _PROTOTYPE( void sys_task, (void)					);
+_PROTOTYPE( void system_init, (void)					);
 #define numap_local(proc_nr, vir_addr, bytes) \
 	umap_local(proc_addr(proc_nr), D, (vir_addr), (bytes))
 _PROTOTYPE( phys_bytes umap_grant, (struct proc *, cp_grant_id_t, vir_bytes));
diff --git a/kernel/system.c b/kernel/system.c
index b1a49f2d7..2e7d5d71b 100644
--- a/kernel/system.c
+++ b/kernel/system.c
@@ -75,10 +75,6 @@ PUBLIC void sys_task()
   int who_p;
   endpoint_t who_e;
 
-  /* Initialize the system task. */
-  initialize();
-
-
   while (TRUE) {
       struct proc *restarting;
 
@@ -146,7 +142,7 @@ PUBLIC void sys_task()
 /*===========================================================================*
  *				initialize				     *
  *===========================================================================*/
-PRIVATE void initialize(void)
+PUBLIC void system_init(void)
 {
   register struct priv *sp;
   int i;