Index: kernel/genarch/include/genarch/drivers/ns16550/ns16550.h
===================================================================
--- kernel/genarch/include/genarch/drivers/ns16550/ns16550.h	(revision 1b7b7aff32d0dd8183160089c5b1fa67735d20ce)
+++ kernel/genarch/include/genarch/drivers/ns16550/ns16550.h	(revision b4edc96c3455b41ece7d35a9752221342dec22f8)
@@ -43,9 +43,25 @@
 #include <console/chardev.h>
 
-#define IER_ERBFI  0x01  /** Enable Receive Buffer Full Interrupt. */
+#define NS156440_CLOCK    115200 /** Internal clock speed, max. baud rate. */
 
-#define LCR_DLAB   0x80  /** Divisor Latch Access bit. */
+#define IER_ERBFI         0x01   /** Enable Receive Buffer Full Interrupt. */
+#define MCR_OUT2          0x08   /** OUT2. */
 
-#define MCR_OUT2   0x08  /** OUT2. */
+#define LCR_DLAB          0x80   /** Divisor Latch Access bit. */
+#define LCR_SBE           0x40   /** RS-232 Break Signal bit. */
+
+#define LCR_PARITY_NONE   0x00   /** No parity bit. */
+#define LCR_PARITY_ODD    0x08   /** Odd parity. */
+#define LCR_PARITY_EVEN   0x18   /** Even parity. */
+#define LCR_PARITY_MARK   0x28   /** Parity bit always one. */
+#define LCR_PARITY_SPACE  0x38   /** Parity bit always zero. */
+
+#define LCR_STOP_BIT_ONE  0x00   /** One stop bit. */
+#define LCR_STOP_BIT_TWO  0x04   /** Two stop bits. */
+
+#define LCR_WORD_LEN_5    0x00   /** 5-bit word length. */
+#define LCR_WORD_LEN_6    0x01   /** 6-bit word length. */
+#define LCR_WORD_LEN_7    0x02   /** 7-bit word length. */
+#define LCR_WORD_LEN_8    0x03   /** 8-bit word length. */
 
 /** NS16550 registers. */
@@ -53,5 +69,7 @@
 	NS16550_REG_RBR = 0,  /**< Receiver Buffer Register (read). */
 	NS16550_REG_THR = 0,  /**< Transmitter Holder Register (write). */
+	NS16550_REG_DLL = 0,  /**< Baud rate divisor latch low byte (write). */
 	NS16550_REG_IER = 1,  /**< Interrupt Enable Register. */
+	NS16550_REG_DLH = 1,  /**< Baud rate divisor latch high byte (write). */
 	NS16550_REG_IIR = 2,  /**< Interrupt Ident Register (read). */
 	NS16550_REG_FCR = 2,  /**< FIFO control register (write). */
@@ -73,4 +91,5 @@
 extern ns16550_instance_t *ns16550_init(ioport8_t *, unsigned, inr_t, cir_t,
     void *, outdev_t **);
+extern void ns16550_format_set(ns16550_instance_t *, unsigned, uint8_t);
 extern void ns16550_wire(ns16550_instance_t *, indev_t *);
 
Index: kernel/genarch/src/drivers/ns16550/ns16550.c
===================================================================
--- kernel/genarch/src/drivers/ns16550/ns16550.c	(revision 1b7b7aff32d0dd8183160089c5b1fa67735d20ce)
+++ kernel/genarch/src/drivers/ns16550/ns16550.c	(revision b4edc96c3455b41ece7d35a9752221342dec22f8)
@@ -132,4 +132,28 @@
 };
 
+/** Configure ns16550 transmission format.
+ *
+ * @param instance   NS 16550 driver instance.
+ * @param baud_rate  Transmission speed in bits per second, also known as baud,
+ *                   maximum value is 115200.
+ * @param lcr_format Line Control Register configuration bits, as defined by
+ *                   the @c LCR_ macros.  These configure the word width,
+ *                   parity type, and stop bit count.
+ */
+void ns16550_format_set(ns16550_instance_t *instance,
+    unsigned baud_rate, uint8_t lcr_format)
+{
+	uint16_t divisor;
+
+	divisor = (uint16_t)(NS156440_CLOCK / baud_rate);
+	if (divisor == 0)
+		divisor = 1;  /* Avoid division by zero. */
+
+	ns16550_reg_write(instance, NS16550_REG_LCR, LCR_DLAB);
+	ns16550_reg_write(instance, NS16550_REG_DLL, divisor & 0xFF);
+	ns16550_reg_write(instance, NS16550_REG_DLH, (divisor >> 8) & 0xFF);
+	ns16550_reg_write(instance, NS16550_REG_LCR, lcr_format & ~LCR_DLAB);
+}
+
 /** Initialize ns16550.
  *