diff --git a/build/shared/revisions.txt b/build/shared/revisions.txt
index 09afe4b28..881fda75b 100644
--- a/build/shared/revisions.txt
+++ b/build/shared/revisions.txt
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ The following changes are included also in the (not yet released) Arduino IDE 1.
 * avr: Improved USB-CDC read code (Paul Brook)
 * avr: Fixed race condition in USB-CDC transmit (Paul Brook)
 * Fixed wrong NULL pointer handling in Stream class (Amulya Kumar Sahoo)
+* Added initVariant() hook to allow 3rd party variant-specific initialization
 
 [ide]
 * Fix toolchain command line to compile assembler files (Jimmy Hedman)
@@ -302,6 +303,7 @@ ARDUINO 1.0.6 - not yet released
 * Backported String class from IDE 1.5.x (Matt Jenkins)
 * Backported Print class from IDE 1.5.x
 * Backported digitalPinToInterrupt macro from IDE 1.5.x
+* Added initVariant() hook to allow 3rd party variant-specific initialization
 
 [ide]
 * Added compatibility for IDE 1.5.x libraries layout
diff --git a/hardware/arduino/sam/cores/arduino/main.cpp b/hardware/arduino/sam/cores/arduino/main.cpp
index 7584860aa..ab125365d 100644
--- a/hardware/arduino/sam/cores/arduino/main.cpp
+++ b/hardware/arduino/sam/cores/arduino/main.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ extern void SysTick_Handler( void )
 }
 */
 
+// Weak empty variant initialization function.
+// May be redefined by variant files.
+void initVariant() __attribute__((weak));
+void initVariant() { }
+
 /*
  * \brief Main entry point of Arduino application
  */
@@ -38,6 +43,8 @@ int main( void )
 {
 	init();
 
+	initVariant();
+
 	delay(1);
 
 #if defined(USBCON)
diff --git a/hardware/arduino/sam/cores/arduino/wiring.h b/hardware/arduino/sam/cores/arduino/wiring.h
index b3edbea42..4316ea39e 100644
--- a/hardware/arduino/sam/cores/arduino/wiring.h
+++ b/hardware/arduino/sam/cores/arduino/wiring.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ extern "C" {
 /**
  *
  */
+extern void initVariant( void ) ;
 extern void init( void ) ;
 
 /**