diff --git a/cpu/lpc2387/include/lpc2387-rtc.h b/cpu/lpc2387/include/lpc2387-rtc.h
index 9420fc7c2..f8de46c06 100644
--- a/cpu/lpc2387/include/lpc2387-rtc.h
+++ b/cpu/lpc2387/include/lpc2387-rtc.h
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ enum rtc_alarm_mask {
  * @internal
  * During reboots only alarms are reset.
  */
-void _rtc_init(void);
+void rtc_init(void);
 
 void _rtc_reset(void);
 
diff --git a/cpu/lpc2387/lpc2387-rtc.c b/cpu/lpc2387/lpc2387-rtc.c
index ca713833a..03028343b 100644
--- a/cpu/lpc2387/lpc2387-rtc.c
+++ b/cpu/lpc2387/lpc2387-rtc.c
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ void rtc_enable(void)
 	epoch = now - (now % 3600);
 }
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
-void _rtc_init(void)
+void rtc_init(void)
 {
 	PCONP |= BIT9;
 	RTC_AMR = 0xff;							// disable alarm irq
diff --git a/sys/auto_init.c b/sys/auto_init.c
index 17fdeb34d..bf98ae755 100644
--- a/sys/auto_init.c
+++ b/sys/auto_init.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <board_uart0.h>
 #include <auto_init.h>
+#include <lpc2387-rtc.h>
 
 #define ENABLE_DEBUG
 #include <debug.h>
@@ -21,6 +22,11 @@ void auto_init(void) {
     DEBUG("Auto init uart0 module.\n");
     board_uart0_init();
 #endif
+#ifdef MODULE_RTC
+    DEBUG("Auto init rtc module.\n");
+    rtc_init();
+    rtc_enable();
+#endif
 #ifdef MODULE_SHT11
     DEBUG("Auto init SHT11 module.\n");
     sht11_init();