diff --git a/arch/mips/src/common/up_initialize.c b/arch/mips/src/common/up_initialize.c
index 93af8667bf..b51319175b 100644
--- a/arch/mips/src/common/up_initialize.c
+++ b/arch/mips/src/common/up_initialize.c
@@ -153,6 +153,8 @@ void up_initialize(void)
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_USE_SERIALDRIVER
   up_serialinit();
+#elif defined(CONFIG_DEV_LOWCONSOLE)
+  lowconsole_init();
 #endif
 
   /* Initialize the netwok */
diff --git a/arch/mips/src/pic32mx/pic32mx-lowconsole.c b/arch/mips/src/pic32mx/pic32mx-lowconsole.c
index c6452e2b33..f8d318bf00 100644
--- a/arch/mips/src/pic32mx/pic32mx-lowconsole.c
+++ b/arch/mips/src/pic32mx/pic32mx-lowconsole.c
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ void pic32mx_uartconfigure(uintptr_t uart_base, uint32_t baudrate,
 
   /* Enable the UART */
 
-  pic32mx_putreg(uart_base, PIC32MX_UART_MODESET_OFFSET,
+  pic32mx_putreg(uart_base, PIC32MX_UART_STASET_OFFSET,
                  UART_STA_UTXEN | UART_STA_URXEN);
   pic32mx_putreg(uart_base, PIC32MX_UART_MODESET_OFFSET,
                  UART_MODE_ON);