diff --git a/arch/arm/arm-m/start.c b/arch/arm/arm-m/start.c
index b476801e..926aeb1f 100644
--- a/arch/arm/arm-m/start.c
+++ b/arch/arm/arm-m/start.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 extern unsigned int __data_start_rom, __data_start, __data_end;
 extern unsigned int __bss_start, __bss_end;
 
-extern void kmain(void) __NO_RETURN __EXTERNALLY_VISIBLE;
+extern void lk_main(void) __NO_RETURN __EXTERNALLY_VISIBLE;
 
 void _start(void)
 {
@@ -46,5 +46,5 @@ void _start(void)
 	while (bss != &__bss_end)
 		*bss++ = 0;
 
-	kmain();
+	lk_main();
 }
diff --git a/arch/arm/arm/start.S b/arch/arm/arm/start.S
index de795bb1..c1b0d360 100644
--- a/arch/arm/arm/start.S
+++ b/arch/arm/arm/start.S
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ reset:
 	strlt	r2, [r0], #4
 	blt		.L__bss_loop
 
-	bl		kmain
+	bl		lk_main
 	b		.
 
 .ltorg
diff --git a/arch/x86/crt0.S b/arch/x86/crt0.S
index 3eb0f077..53065a86 100644
--- a/arch/x86/crt0.S
+++ b/arch/x86/crt0.S
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ real_start:
 	loop 2b
 	
 	/* call the main module */
-	call kmain
+	call lk_main
 	
 0:							/* just sit around waiting for interrupts */
 	hlt						/* interrupts will unhalt the processor */
diff --git a/engine.mk b/engine.mk
index 73803469..b5926beb 100644
--- a/engine.mk
+++ b/engine.mk
@@ -115,11 +115,7 @@ $(info PLATFORM = $(PLATFORM))
 $(info TARGET = $(TARGET))
 
 include arch/$(ARCH)/rules.mk
-include platform/rules.mk
-include target/rules.mk
-include kernel/rules.mk
-include dev/rules.mk
-include app/rules.mk
+include top/rules.mk
 
 # recursively include any modules in the MODULE variable, leaving a trail of included
 # modules in the ALLMODULES list
diff --git a/kernel/init.c b/kernel/init.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2a990832
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kernel/init.c
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2013 Travis Geiselbrecht
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining
+ * a copy of this software and associated documentation files
+ * (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction,
+ * including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge,
+ * publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software,
+ * and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so,
+ * subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be
+ * included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
+ * EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF
+ * MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
+ * IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY
+ * CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT,
+ * TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE
+ * SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+#include <compiler.h>
+#include <debug.h>
+#include <kernel/thread.h>
+#include <kernel/timer.h>
+#include <kernel/debug.h>
+
+void kernel_init(void)
+{
+	// if enabled, configure the kernel's event log
+	kernel_evlog_init();
+
+	// initialize the threading system
+	dprintf(SPEW, "initializing threads\n");
+	thread_init();
+
+	// initialize kernel timers
+	dprintf(SPEW, "initializing timers\n");
+	timer_init();
+}
+
diff --git a/kernel/rules.mk b/kernel/rules.mk
index b3a3256f..a6819c63 100644
--- a/kernel/rules.mk
+++ b/kernel/rules.mk
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ MODULE_DEPS := \
 MODULE_SRCS := \
 	$(LOCAL_DIR)/debug.c \
 	$(LOCAL_DIR)/event.c \
-	$(LOCAL_DIR)/main.c \
+	$(LOCAL_DIR)/init.c \
 	$(LOCAL_DIR)/mutex.c \
 	$(LOCAL_DIR)/thread.c \
 	$(LOCAL_DIR)/timer.c \
diff --git a/kernel/main.c b/top/main.c
similarity index 87%
rename from kernel/main.c
rename to top/main.c
index 1c6295d0..7fcd060a 100644
--- a/kernel/main.c
+++ b/top/main.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (c) 2008 Travis Geiselbrecht
+ * Copyright (c) 2013 Travis Geiselbrecht
  *
  * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining
  * a copy of this software and associated documentation files
@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@
  * TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE
  * SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
  */
+
+/*
+ * Main entry point to the OS. Initializes modules in order and creates
+ * the default thread.
+ */
 #include <compiler.h>
 #include <debug.h>
 #include <string.h>
@@ -32,8 +37,6 @@
 #include <lib/fs.h>
 #include <lib/bio.h>
 #include <kernel/thread.h>
-#include <kernel/timer.h>
-#include <kernel/debug.h>
 
 extern void *__ctor_list;
 extern void *__ctor_end;
@@ -42,6 +45,8 @@ extern int _end;
 
 static int bootstrap2(void *arg);
 
+extern void kernel_init(void);
+
 static void call_constructors(void)
 {
 	void **ctor;
@@ -57,9 +62,9 @@ static void call_constructors(void)
 	}
 }
 
-/* called from crt0.S */
-void kmain(void) __NO_RETURN __EXTERNALLY_VISIBLE;
-void kmain(void)
+/* called from arch code */
+void lk_main(void) __NO_RETURN __EXTERNALLY_VISIBLE;
+void lk_main(void)
 {
 	inc_critical_section();
 
@@ -85,16 +90,8 @@ void kmain(void)
 	dprintf(SPEW, "initializing heap\n");
 	heap_init();
 
-	// if enabled, configure the kernel's event log
-	kernel_evlog_init();
-
-	// initialize the threading system
-	dprintf(SPEW, "initializing threads\n");
-	thread_init();
-
-	// initialize kernel timers
-	dprintf(SPEW, "initializing timers\n");
-	timer_init();
+	// initialize the kernel
+	kernel_init();
 
 	// create a thread to complete system initialization
 	dprintf(SPEW, "creating bootstrap completion thread\n");
@@ -141,3 +138,4 @@ static int bootstrap2(void *arg)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+
diff --git a/top/rules.mk b/top/rules.mk
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..697c4324
--- /dev/null
+++ b/top/rules.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+LOCAL_DIR := $(GET_LOCAL_DIR)
+
+MODULE := $(LOCAL_DIR)
+
+MODULE_DEPS := \
+	platform \
+	target \
+	app \
+	dev \
+	kernel
+
+MODULE_SRCS := \
+	$(LOCAL_DIR)/main.c \
+
+include make/module.mk