diff --git a/boards/wsn430-common/wsn430-uart0.c b/boards/wsn430-common/wsn430-uart0.c
index 7161d431dc..4188bcec0b 100644
--- a/boards/wsn430-common/wsn430-uart0.c
+++ b/boards/wsn430-common/wsn430-uart0.c
@@ -30,6 +30,15 @@ int putchar(int c)
     return c;
 }
 
+int getchar(void)
+{
+#ifdef MODULE_UART0
+    return uart0_readc();
+#else
+    return U0RXBUF;
+#endif
+}
+
 void usart0irq(void);
 /**
  * \brief the interrupt function