diff --git a/src/include/bits/ns16550.h b/src/include/bits/ns16550.h
index 4b3e30c76..e40b2a21b 100644
--- a/src/include/bits/ns16550.h
+++ b/src/include/bits/ns16550.h
@@ -3,13 +3,40 @@
 
 /** @file
  *
- * Dummy architecture-specific 16550-compatible UART
- *
- * This file is included only if the architecture does not provide its
- * own version of this file.
+ * 16550-compatible UART
  *
  */
 
 FILE_LICENCE ( GPL2_OR_LATER_OR_UBDL );
 
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <ipxe/io.h>
+
+/**
+ * Write to UART register
+ *
+ * @v ns16550		16550 UART
+ * @v address		Register address
+ * @v data		Data
+ */
+static inline __attribute__ (( always_inline )) void
+ns16550_write ( struct ns16550_uart *ns16550, unsigned int address,
+		uint8_t data ) {
+
+	writeb ( data, ( ns16550->base + ( address << ns16550->shift ) ) );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Read from UART register
+ *
+ * @v ns16550		16550 UART
+ * @v address		Register address
+ * @ret data		Data
+ */
+static inline __attribute__ (( always_inline )) uint8_t
+ns16550_read ( struct ns16550_uart *ns16550, unsigned int address ) {
+
+	return readb ( ns16550->base + ( address << ns16550->shift ) );
+}
+
 #endif /* _BITS_NS16550_H */
diff --git a/src/include/ipxe/ns16550.h b/src/include/ipxe/ns16550.h
index f7bb55a84..3aaab6891 100644
--- a/src/include/ipxe/ns16550.h
+++ b/src/include/ipxe/ns16550.h
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ struct ns16550_uart {
 	struct uart uart;
 	/** Register base address */
 	void *base;
+	/** Register shift */
+	unsigned int shift;
 	/** Baud rate divisor */
 	uint16_t divisor;
 };