diff --git a/src/osmo-bts-litecell15/lc15_l1_if.c b/src/osmo-bts-litecell15/lc15_l1_if.c
index 580cdf09..043a3bac 100644
--- a/src/osmo-bts-litecell15/lc15_l1_if.c
+++ b/src/osmo-bts-litecell15/lc15_l1_if.c
@@ -404,3 +404,8 @@ int l1if_close_pdch(void *obj)
 	talloc_free(fl1h);
 	return 0;
 }
+
+int l1if_init(void)
+{
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/src/osmo-bts-oc2g/oc2g_l1_if.c b/src/osmo-bts-oc2g/oc2g_l1_if.c
index 48005a29..c827d727 100644
--- a/src/osmo-bts-oc2g/oc2g_l1_if.c
+++ b/src/osmo-bts-oc2g/oc2g_l1_if.c
@@ -409,3 +409,8 @@ int l1if_close_pdch(void *obj)
 	talloc_free(fl1h);
 	return 0;
 }
+
+int l1if_init(void)
+{
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/src/osmo-bts-sysmo/sysmo_l1_if.c b/src/osmo-bts-sysmo/sysmo_l1_if.c
index 18378b6b..348497f3 100644
--- a/src/osmo-bts-sysmo/sysmo_l1_if.c
+++ b/src/osmo-bts-sysmo/sysmo_l1_if.c
@@ -386,3 +386,8 @@ int l1if_close_pdch(void *obj)
 	talloc_free(fl1h);
 	return 0;
 }
+
+int l1if_init(void)
+{
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/src/pcu_l1_if_phy.h b/src/pcu_l1_if_phy.h
index 318d0aa5..297883bc 100644
--- a/src/pcu_l1_if_phy.h
+++ b/src/pcu_l1_if_phy.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <osmocom/core/gsmtap_util.h>
 
+int l1if_init(void);
 void *l1if_open_pdch(uint8_t trx_no, uint32_t hlayer1, struct gsmtap_inst *gsmtap);
 int l1if_connect_pdch(void *obj, uint8_t ts);
 int l1if_pdch_req(void *obj, uint8_t ts, int is_ptcch, uint32_t fn, uint16_t arfcn, uint8_t block_nr, uint8_t *data,
diff --git a/src/pcu_main.cpp b/src/pcu_main.cpp
index 901ee6cf..ec7bddd4 100644
--- a/src/pcu_main.cpp
+++ b/src/pcu_main.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 extern "C" {
 #include "pcu_vty.h"
 #include "coding_scheme.h"
+#include "pcu_l1_if_phy.h"
 #include <osmocom/gprs/gprs_bssgp.h>
 #include <osmocom/gprs/gprs_ns2.h>
 #include <osmocom/vty/telnet_interface.h>
@@ -250,6 +251,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	osmo_cpu_sched_vty_init(tall_pcu_ctx);
 	logging_vty_add_deprecated_subsys(tall_pcu_ctx, "bssgp");
 
+#ifdef ENABLE_DIRECT_PHY
+	rc = l1if_init();
+	if (rc < 0)
+		return -EINVAL;
+#endif
+
 	handle_options(argc, argv);
 	if ((!!spoof_mcc) + (!!spoof_mnc) == 1) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "--mcc and --mnc must be specified "