diff --git a/cpu/ppc4xx/cpu.c b/cpu/ppc4xx/cpu.c
index a676b30efe..1f0b56cb76 100644
--- a/cpu/ppc4xx/cpu.c
+++ b/cpu/ppc4xx/cpu.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include <command.h>
 #include <asm/cache.h>
 #include <ppc4xx.h>
+#include <netdev.h>
 
 DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
 
@@ -693,3 +694,16 @@ void reset_4xx_watchdog(void)
 	mtspr(tsr, 0x40000000);
 }
 #endif	/* CONFIG_WATCHDOG */
+
+/*
+ * Initializes on-chip ethernet controllers.
+ * to override, implement board_eth_init()
+ */
+int cpu_eth_init(bd_t *bis)
+{
+#if defined(CONFIG_PPC4xx_EMAC)
+	ppc_4xx_eth_initialize(bis);
+#endif
+	return 0;
+}
+
diff --git a/include/netdev.h b/include/netdev.h
index 45e59b6f62..751f0dab55 100644
--- a/include/netdev.h
+++ b/include/netdev.h
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ int npe_initialize(bd_t *bis);
 int ns8382x_initialize(bd_t *bis);
 int pcnet_initialize(bd_t *bis);
 int plb2800_eth_initialize(bd_t *bis);
+int ppc_4xx_eth_initialize (bd_t *bis);
 int rtl8139_initialize(bd_t *bis);
 int rtl8169_initialize(bd_t *bis);
 int scc_initialize(bd_t *bis);
diff --git a/net/eth.c b/net/eth.c
index eab51045a4..b7ef09f447 100644
--- a/net/eth.c
+++ b/net/eth.c
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ int board_eth_init(bd_t *bis) __attribute((weak, alias("__def_eth_init")));
 
 extern int mv6436x_eth_initialize(bd_t *);
 extern int mv6446x_eth_initialize(bd_t *);
-extern int ppc_4xx_eth_initialize(bd_t *);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_API
 extern void (*push_packet)(volatile void *, int);
@@ -152,9 +151,6 @@ int eth_initialize(bd_t *bis)
 #endif
 #if defined(CONFIG_DB64460) || defined(CONFIG_P3Mx)
 	mv6446x_eth_initialize(bis);
-#endif
-#if defined(CONFIG_PPC4xx_EMAC)
-	ppc_4xx_eth_initialize(bis);
 #endif
 	if (!eth_devices) {
 		puts ("No ethernet found.\n");