diff --git a/arch/mips/lib/board.c b/arch/mips/lib/board.c
index 4f330ccf7d7dabcbd9f2fad5e61838a6a6be17a9..d79e1837d9a37c21c07556618a22dc9c60e173e7 100644
--- a/arch/mips/lib/board.c
+++ b/arch/mips/lib/board.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <common.h>
 #include <command.h>
 #include <malloc.h>
+#include <serial.h>
 #include <stdio_dev.h>
 #include <version.h>
 #include <net.h>
@@ -262,6 +263,8 @@ void board_init_r(gd_t *id, ulong dest_addr)
 
 	monitor_flash_len = (ulong)&uboot_end_data - dest_addr;
 
+	serial_initialize();
+
 #if defined(CONFIG_NEEDS_MANUAL_RELOC)
 	/*
 	 * We have to relocate the command table manually