diff --git a/repos/base-hw/lib/mk/platform_vea9x4/core.mk b/repos/base-hw/lib/mk/platform_vea9x4/core.mk
index 7d7a4d56a..822c9f963 100644
--- a/repos/base-hw/lib/mk/platform_vea9x4/core.mk
+++ b/repos/base-hw/lib/mk/platform_vea9x4/core.mk
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ INC_DIR += $(REP_DIR)/src/core/include/spec/pl011
 # add C++ sources
 SRC_CC += platform_services.cc
 SRC_CC += spec/vea9x4/platform_support.cc
+SRC_CC += spec/vea9x4/board.cc
 SRC_CC += spec/cortex_a9/pic.cc
 SRC_CC += spec/arm_gic/pic.cc
 
diff --git a/repos/base-hw/src/core/include/spec/cortex_a9/cpu.h b/repos/base-hw/src/core/include/spec/cortex_a9/cpu.h
index 07ce35890..03acacf0c 100644
--- a/repos/base-hw/src/core/include/spec/cortex_a9/cpu.h
+++ b/repos/base-hw/src/core/include/spec/cortex_a9/cpu.h
@@ -213,6 +213,24 @@ class Genode::Cpu : public Arm_v7
 
 	public:
 
+		/**
+		 * Auxiliary Control Register
+		 */
+		struct Actlr : Register<32>
+		{
+			struct Smp : Bitfield<6, 1> { };
+
+			static access_t read()
+			{
+				access_t v;
+				asm volatile ("mrc p15, 0, %0, c1, c0, 1" : "=r" (v) :: );
+				return v;
+			}
+
+			static void write(access_t const v) {
+				asm volatile ("mcr p15, 0, %0, c1, c0, 1" :: "r" (v) : ); }
+		};
+
 		enum
 		{
 			/* interrupt controller */
diff --git a/repos/base-hw/src/core/include/spec/vea9x4/board.h b/repos/base-hw/src/core/include/spec/vea9x4/board.h
index e06a00e2a..dc1506dbb 100644
--- a/repos/base-hw/src/core/include/spec/vea9x4/board.h
+++ b/repos/base-hw/src/core/include/spec/vea9x4/board.h
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ namespace Genode
 
 			static void outer_cache_invalidate() { }
 			static void outer_cache_flush() { }
-			static void prepare_kernel() { }
+			static void prepare_kernel();
 			static void secondary_cpus_ip(void * const ip) { }
 
 			/**
diff --git a/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/vea9x4/board.cc b/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/vea9x4/board.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d2e33dbaf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/repos/base-hw/src/core/spec/vea9x4/board.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+/*
+ * \brief  Board driver for core
+ * \author Martin Stein
+ * \date   2015-02-16
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2012-2015 Genode Labs GmbH
+ *
+ * This file is part of the Genode OS framework, which is distributed
+ * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2.
+ */
+
+/* core includes */
+#include <cpu.h>
+
+using namespace Genode;
+
+
+void Board::prepare_kernel()
+{
+	/**
+	 * FIXME We enable this bit although base-hw doesn't support
+	 *       SMP because it fastens RAM access significantly.
+	 */
+	Cpu::Actlr::access_t actlr = Cpu::Actlr::read();
+	Cpu::Actlr::Smp::set(actlr, 1);
+	Cpu::Actlr::write(actlr);
+}