diff --git a/base-hw/run/env b/base-hw/run/env
index 5b634927ca..5521d93fc1 100644
--- a/base-hw/run/env
+++ b/base-hw/run/env
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ proc run_genode_until {{wait_for_re forever} {timeout_value 0} {running_spawn_id
 		return
 	}
 	if {[is_serial_available]} {
-		spawn_serial $wait_for_re $timeout_value "create local services"
+		spawn_serial $wait_for_re $timeout_value "kernel initialized"
 		return
 	}
 
diff --git a/base-hw/src/core/kernel/kernel.cc b/base-hw/src/core/kernel/kernel.cc
index fd7b695171..f5e33dfa77 100644
--- a/base-hw/src/core/kernel/kernel.cc
+++ b/base-hw/src/core/kernel/kernel.cc
@@ -267,6 +267,7 @@ extern "C" void init_kernel_multiprocessor()
 
 		/* kernel initialization finished */
 		init_platform();
+		Genode::printf("kernel initialized\n");
 	}
 	reset_scheduling_time(processor_id);
 }