diff --git a/cpu/mpc8220/cpu.c b/cpu/mpc8220/cpu.c
index 5b3fdd3..563cfe0 100644
--- a/cpu/mpc8220/cpu.c
+++ b/cpu/mpc8220/cpu.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include <watchdog.h>
 #include <command.h>
 #include <mpc8220.h>
+#include <netdev.h>
 #include <asm/processor.h>
 
 DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
@@ -89,3 +90,15 @@
 }
 
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+/*
+ * Initializes on-chip ethernet controllers.
+ * to override, implement board_eth_init()
+ */
+int cpu_eth_init(bd_t *bis)
+{
+#if defined(CONFIG_MPC8220_FEC)
+	mpc8220_fec_initialize(bis);
+#endif
+	return 0;
+}