diff --git a/src/misc/Makefile b/src/misc/Makefile
index a6f0ef4b5..ab155ddab 100644
--- a/src/misc/Makefile
+++ b/src/misc/Makefile
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ TOP=../..
 include $(TOP)/configure/CONFIG
 
 DBD += base.dbd
+DBD += system.dbd
 
 INC += epicsRelease.h
 INC += iocInit.h
diff --git a/src/misc/system.dbd b/src/misc/system.dbd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e50c19820
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/misc/system.dbd
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Including this DBD file adds a 'system' command to the IOC shell.
+
+registrar(iocshSystemCommand)
diff --git a/src/softIoc/Makefile b/src/softIoc/Makefile
index 65175420e..3e962e158 100644
--- a/src/softIoc/Makefile
+++ b/src/softIoc/Makefile
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ PROD_IOC = softIoc
 
 DBD += softIoc.dbd
 softIoc_DBD += base.dbd
+softIoc_DBD += system.dbd
 
 ABS_INSTALL_DIR = $(shell $(PERL) $(TOOLS)/fullPathName.pl $(INSTALL_LOCATION))
 USR_CXXFLAGS += -DEPICS_BASE=$(ABS_INSTALL_DIR)