diff --git a/headers/private/kernel/boot_item.h b/headers/private/kernel/boot_item.h
index 4629c224f8..1dd05670df 100644
--- a/headers/private/kernel/boot_item.h
+++ b/headers/private/kernel/boot_item.h
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
+extern status_t boot_item_init(void);
+
 extern status_t add_boot_item(const char *name, void *data, size_t size);
 extern void *get_boot_item(const char *name);
 
diff --git a/src/system/kernel/boot_item.cpp b/src/system/kernel/boot_item.cpp
index 29b6ffa34d..d4a829969d 100644
--- a/src/system/kernel/boot_item.cpp
+++ b/src/system/kernel/boot_item.cpp
@@ -60,3 +60,13 @@ get_boot_item(const char *name)
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+
+status_t
+boot_item_init(void)
+{
+	new(&sItemList) ItemList;
+		// static initializers do not work in the kernel,
+		// so we have to do it here, manually
+
+	return B_OK;
+}
diff --git a/src/system/kernel/main.c b/src/system/kernel/main.c
index 458d7a71b5..df7256b876 100644
--- a/src/system/kernel/main.c
+++ b/src/system/kernel/main.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <elf.h>
 #include <cpu.h>
 #include <kdriver_settings.h>
+#include <boot_item.h>
 #include <kmodule.h>
 #include <int.h>
 #include <team.h>
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ _start(kernel_args *oldka, int cpu_num)
 
 		// now we can use the heap and create areas
 		TRACE(("init driver_settings\n"));
+		boot_item_init();
 		driver_settings_init(&ka);
 		debug_init_post_vm(&ka);
 		int_init_post_vm(&ka);