diff --git a/cpu/x86/Makefile.x86 b/cpu/x86/Makefile.x86
index 94f1d0a03..af69e98f5 100644
--- a/cpu/x86/Makefile.x86
+++ b/cpu/x86/Makefile.x86
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-CONTIKI_CPU_DIRS = .
+CONTIKI_CPU_DIRS = . drivers
 
 CONTIKI_SOURCEFILES += mtarch.c gdt.c helpers.S idt.c cpu.c
 
diff --git a/cpu/x86/cpu.c b/cpu/x86/cpu.c
index d3e5fef84..b7b7a9e5b 100644
--- a/cpu/x86/cpu.c
+++ b/cpu/x86/cpu.c
@@ -29,9 +29,10 @@
  */
 
 #include "gdt.h"
+#include "helpers.h"
 #include "idt.h"
 #include "interrupt.h"
-#include "helpers.h"
+#include "pic.h"
 
 static void
 double_fault_handler(struct interrupt_context context)
@@ -49,4 +50,6 @@ cpu_init(void)
    * the system to triple fault, leaving no trace about what happened.
    */
   SET_INTERRUPT_HANDLER(8, 1, double_fault_handler);
+
+  pic_init();
 }
diff --git a/cpu/x86/drivers/pic.h b/cpu/x86/drivers/pic.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3f82a00ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cpu/x86/drivers/pic.h
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2015, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * 3. Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its
+ *    contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+ *    from this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
+ * FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+ * COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
+ * INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+ * (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
+ * SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+ * HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT,
+ * STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+ * ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED
+ * OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#ifndef PIC_H
+#define PIC_H
+
+#include "helpers.h"
+
+#define PIC1_CMD_PORT   0x20
+#define PIC1_DATA_PORT  0x21
+#define PIC2_CMD_PORT   0xA0
+#define PIC2_DATA_PORT  0xA1
+
+/* This function initializes the daisy-chained Master and Slave 8259 PICs.
+ * It is only called once, so let's give the compiler the option to inline it.
+ * For more information about the ICWs, please refer to http://stanislavs.org/helppc/8259.html.
+ */
+static inline void
+pic_init(void)
+{
+  /* ICW1: Initialization. */
+  outb(PIC1_CMD_PORT, 0x11);
+  outb(PIC2_CMD_PORT, 0x11);
+
+  /* ICW2: Remap IRQs by setting an IDT Offset for each PIC. */
+  outb(PIC1_DATA_PORT, 0x20);
+  outb(PIC2_DATA_PORT, 0x28);
+
+  /* ICW3: Setup Slave to Master's IRQ2. */
+  outb(PIC1_DATA_PORT, 0x04);
+  outb(PIC2_DATA_PORT, 0x02);
+
+  /* ICW4: Environment setup. Set PIC1 as master and PIC2 as slave. */
+  outb(PIC1_DATA_PORT, 0x01);
+  outb(PIC2_DATA_PORT, 0x01);
+
+  /* Set the IMR register, masking all hardware interrupts but IRQ 2.
+   * We will have to unmask each IRQ when registering them. */
+  outb(PIC1_DATA_PORT, 0xfb);
+  outb(PIC2_DATA_PORT, 0xff);
+}
+
+#endif /* PIC_H */
diff --git a/cpu/x86/helpers.S b/cpu/x86/helpers.S
index 07e3c7655..694f4ef21 100644
--- a/cpu/x86/helpers.S
+++ b/cpu/x86/helpers.S
@@ -35,3 +35,10 @@ halt:
         cli
 die:    hlt
         jmp die
+
+.global outb
+outb:
+        mov 4(%esp), %dx
+        mov 8(%esp), %al
+        out %al, %dx
+        ret
diff --git a/cpu/x86/helpers.h b/cpu/x86/helpers.h
index 29476e690..4b76bae98 100644
--- a/cpu/x86/helpers.h
+++ b/cpu/x86/helpers.h
@@ -31,8 +31,16 @@
 #ifndef HELPERS_H
 #define HELPERS_H
 
+#include <stdint.h>
+
 #define BIT(n) (1UL << (n))
 
 void halt(void) __attribute__((__noreturn__));
 
+/**
+ * Wrapper for the assembly 'out' instruction.
+ *
+ */
+void outb(uint16_t port, uint8_t byte);
+
 #endif /* HELPERS_H */
diff --git a/platform/galileo/contiki-main.c b/platform/galileo/contiki-main.c
index 30dd57b5a..8e0f4d6eb 100644
--- a/platform/galileo/contiki-main.c
+++ b/platform/galileo/contiki-main.c
@@ -30,12 +30,15 @@
 
 #include "contiki.h"
 #include "cpu.h"
+#include "interrupt.h"
 
 int
 main(void)
 {
   cpu_init();
 
+  ENABLE_IRQ();
+
   process_init();
   autostart_start(autostart_processes);