diff --git a/src/kernel/boot/platform/bios_ia32/start.c b/src/kernel/boot/platform/bios_ia32/start.c
index 7f2173d34c..7c0fab9159 100644
--- a/src/kernel/boot/platform/bios_ia32/start.c
+++ b/src/kernel/boot/platform/bios_ia32/start.c
@@ -11,9 +11,14 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 
+extern int boot(stage2_args *args);
 void _start(void);
 
 
+int32 stdin, stdout;
+	// only needed for linking, must be derived from the (abstract) ConsoleNode class
+
+
 // dummy implementations
 
 
@@ -51,5 +56,6 @@ platform_init_heap(struct stage2_args *args, void **_base, void **_top)
 void
 _start(void)
 {
+	boot(NULL);
 }