diff --git a/configs/sama5d3x-ek/src/sam_boot.c b/configs/sama5d3x-ek/src/sam_boot.c
index c57b7df06a..a1efeeb98e 100644
--- a/configs/sama5d3x-ek/src/sam_boot.c
+++ b/configs/sama5d3x-ek/src/sam_boot.c
@@ -121,3 +121,30 @@ void sam_boardinitialize(void)
   up_ledinit();
 #endif
 }
+
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Name: board_initialize
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *   If CONFIG_BOARD_INITIALIZE is selected, then an additional
+ *   initialization call will be performed in the boot-up sequence to a
+ *   function called board_initialize().  board_initialize() will be
+ *   called immediately after up_intiialize() is called and just before the
+ *   initial application is started.  This additional initialization phase
+ *   may be used, for example, to initialize board-specific device drivers.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_BOARD_INITIALIZE
+void board_initialize(void)
+{
+  /* Perform NSH initialization here instead of from the NSH.  This
+   * alternative NSH initialization is necessary when NSH is ran in user-space
+   * but the initialization function must run in kernel space.
+   */
+
+#if defined(CONFIG_NSH_LIBRARY) && !defined(CONFIG_NSH_ARCHINIT)
+  (void)nsh_archinitialize();
+#endif
+}
+#endif /* CONFIG_BOARD_INITIALIZE */
diff --git a/configs/sama5d3x-ek/src/sama5d3x-ek.h b/configs/sama5d3x-ek/src/sama5d3x-ek.h
index 14b1f5f028..655a2393af 100644
--- a/configs/sama5d3x-ek/src/sama5d3x-ek.h
+++ b/configs/sama5d3x-ek/src/sama5d3x-ek.h
@@ -654,6 +654,24 @@ void weak_function sam_netinitialize(void);
 void up_ledinit(void);
 #endif
 
+/************************************************************************************
+ * Name: nsh_archinitialize
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *   Perform architecture specific initialization for NSH.
+ *
+ *   CONFIG_NSH_ARCHINIT=y :
+ *     Called from the NSH library
+ *
+ *   CONFIG_BOARD_INITIALIZE=y, CONFIG_NSH_LIBRARY=y, && CONFIG_NSH_ARCHINIT=n :
+ *     Called from board_initialize().
+ *
+ ************************************************************************************/
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_NSH_LIBRARY
+int nsh_archinitialize(void);
+#endif
+
 #endif /* __ASSEMBLY__ */
 #endif /* __CONFIGS_SAMA5D3X_EK_SRC_SAMA5D3X_EK_H */