diff --git a/configs/sama5d4-ek/kernel/defconfig b/configs/sama5d4-ek/kernel/defconfig
index b92fab7ae95..1df0c099f6e 100644
--- a/configs/sama5d4-ek/kernel/defconfig
+++ b/configs/sama5d4-ek/kernel/defconfig
@@ -419,6 +419,9 @@ CONFIG_NAME_MAX=32
 # RTOS hooks
 #
 CONFIG_BOARD_INITIALIZE=y
+CONFIG_BOARD_INITTHREAD=y
+CONFIG_BOARD_INITTHREAD_STACKSIZE=2048
+CONFIG_BOARD_INITTHREAD_PRIORITY=240
 # CONFIG_SCHED_STARTHOOK is not set
 # CONFIG_SCHED_ATEXIT is not set
 # CONFIG_SCHED_ONEXIT is not set