diff --git a/boards/nxp/fmuk66-v3/src/init.c b/boards/nxp/fmuk66-v3/src/init.c
index 09dc752985d1..d6cc60326beb 100644
--- a/boards/nxp/fmuk66-v3/src/init.c
+++ b/boards/nxp/fmuk66-v3/src/init.c
@@ -235,6 +235,25 @@ __EXPORT int board_app_initialize(uintptr_t arg)
 		syslog(LOG_ERR, "DMA alloc FAILED\n");
 	}
 
+	/* set up the serial DMA polling */
+#ifdef SERIAL_HAVE_DMA
+	static struct hrt_call serial_dma_call;
+	struct timespec ts;
+
+	/*
+	 * Poll at 1ms intervals for received bytes that have not triggered
+	 * a DMA event.
+	 */
+	ts.tv_sec = 0;
+	ts.tv_nsec = 1000000;
+
+	hrt_call_every(&serial_dma_call,
+		       ts_to_abstime(&ts),
+		       ts_to_abstime(&ts),
+		       (hrt_callout)kinetis_serial_dma_poll,
+		       NULL);
+#endif
+
 	/* initial LED state */
 	drv_led_start();
 	led_off(LED_RED);