diff --git a/arch/sim/src/up_head.c b/arch/sim/src/up_head.c
index e1d8c943ba..431d417de6 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/up_head.c
+++ b/arch/sim/src/up_head.c
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 
 #include <nuttx/init.h>
 #include <nuttx/arch.h>
+#include <nuttx/pm.h>
 
 /****************************************************************************
  * Private Data
@@ -60,6 +61,16 @@ static jmp_buf sim_abort;
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
 {
+  /* Power management should be initialized early in the (simulated) boot
+   * sequence.
+   */
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_PM
+  pm_initialize();
+#endif
+
+  /* Then start NuttX */
+
   if (setjmp(sim_abort) == 0)
     {
       os_start();
diff --git a/arch/sim/src/up_idle.c b/arch/sim/src/up_idle.c
index 32efaa11b8..f1d9974d23 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/up_idle.c
+++ b/arch/sim/src/up_idle.c
@@ -40,7 +40,10 @@
 #include <nuttx/config.h>
 
 #include <time.h>
+
 #include <nuttx/arch.h>
+#include <nuttx/pm.h>
+
 #include "up_internal.h"
 
 /****************************************************************************
@@ -103,6 +106,24 @@ void up_idle(void)
   uipdriver_loop();
 #endif
 
+  /* Fake some power management stuff for testing purposes */
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_PM
+  {
+    static enum pm_state_e state = PM_NORMAL;
+    enum pm_state_e newstate;
+
+    newstate = pm_checkstate();
+    if (newstate != state)
+      {
+        if (pm_changestate(newstate) == OK)
+          {
+            state = newstate;
+          }
+      }
+  }
+#endif
+
   /* Wait a bit so that the sched_process_timer() is called close to the
    * correct rate.
    */