diff --git a/platforms/nuttx/src/px4/common/px4_protected_layers.cmake b/platforms/nuttx/src/px4/common/px4_protected_layers.cmake
index 898fe3aeac..b3e8b6209e 100644
--- a/platforms/nuttx/src/px4/common/px4_protected_layers.cmake
+++ b/platforms/nuttx/src/px4/common/px4_protected_layers.cmake
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ add_library(px4_layer
 	${PX4_SOURCE_DIR}/platforms/posix/src/px4/common/print_load.cpp
 	${PX4_SOURCE_DIR}/platforms/posix/src/px4/common/cpuload.cpp
 	usr_hrt.cpp
+	px4_userspace_init.cpp
 )
 
 target_link_libraries(px4_layer
diff --git a/platforms/nuttx/src/px4/common/px4_userspace_init.cpp b/platforms/nuttx/src/px4/common/px4_userspace_init.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a776b501e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/platforms/nuttx/src/px4/common/px4_userspace_init.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/****************************************************************************
+ *
+ *   Copyright (C) 2022 Technology Innovation Institute. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ *
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+ *    the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ *    distribution.
+ * 3. Neither the name PX4 nor the names of its contributors may be
+ *    used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
+ *    without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
+ * FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+ * COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
+ * INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING,
+ * BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS
+ * OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED
+ * AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
+ * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN
+ * ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+ * POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+/**
+ * @file px4_userspace_init.cpp
+ *
+ * Initialize px4 userspace in NuttX protected build
+ */
+
+#include <drivers/drv_hrt.h>
+#include <lib/parameters/param.h>
+#include <px4_platform_common/px4_work_queue/WorkQueueManager.hpp>
+#include <uORB/uORB.h>
+#include <sys/boardctl.h>
+
+extern void cdcacm_init(void);
+
+extern "C" void px4_userspace_init(void)
+{
+	hrt_init();
+
+	px4::WorkQueueManagerStart();
+
+	uorb_start();
+
+#if defined(CONFIG_SYSTEM_CDCACM)
+	cdcacm_init();
+#endif
+}