diff --git a/target/linux/ar71xx/base-files/etc/inittab b/target/linux/ar71xx/base-files/etc/inittab
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..af4bf80dc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/target/linux/ar71xx/base-files/etc/inittab
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+::sysinit:/etc/init.d/rcS S boot
+::shutdown:/etc/init.d/rcS K shutdown
+ttyS0::askfirst:/bin/ash --login
+ttyATH0::askfirst:/bin/ash --login