diff --git a/src/kernel/boot/platform/bios_ia32/start.c b/src/kernel/boot/platform/bios_ia32/start.c
index a41b7a22c1..aff768831c 100644
--- a/src/kernel/boot/platform/bios_ia32/start.c
+++ b/src/kernel/boot/platform/bios_ia32/start.c
@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@
 #include "cpu.h"
 #include "mmu.h"
 #include "video.h"
+#include "keyboard.h"
 
-#include <SupportDefs.h>
+#include <KernelExport.h>
 #include <boot/platform.h>
 #include <boot/heap.h>
 #include <boot/stage2.h>
@@ -29,6 +30,9 @@ extern int main(stage2_args *args);
 void _start(void);
 
 
+uint32 sBootOptions;
+
+
 static void
 clear_bss(void)
 {
@@ -47,10 +51,14 @@ call_ctors(void)
 }
 
 
-bool
-platform_user_menu_requested(void)
+uint32
+platform_boot_options(void)
 {
-	return false;
+#if 0
+	if (!gKernelArgs.fb.enabled)
+		sBootOptions |= check_for_boot_keys();
+#endif
+	return sBootOptions;
 }
 
 
@@ -100,6 +108,12 @@ _start(void)
 	mmu_init();
 	video_init();
 
+	spin(50000);
+		// wait a bit to give the user the opportunity to press a key
+
+	// reading the keyboard doesn't seem to work in graphics mode (maybe a bochs problem)
+	sBootOptions = check_for_boot_keys();
+
 	main(&args);
 }