diff --git a/samples/subsys/greybus/net/src/main.c b/samples/subsys/greybus/net/src/main.c
index f28cf33..a5edc8d 100644
--- a/samples/subsys/greybus/net/src/main.c
+++ b/samples/subsys/greybus/net/src/main.c
@@ -7,13 +7,6 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <zephyr.h>
 
-struct device;
-extern int greybus_service_init(struct device *bus);
-
 void main(void)
 {
-        int r = greybus_service_init(NULL);
-        if (r < 0) {
-                printf("gb_service_deferred_init() failed: %d\n", r);
-        }
 }
diff --git a/samples/subsys/greybus/uart/src/main.c b/samples/subsys/greybus/uart/src/main.c
index f2b1995..a5edc8d 100644
--- a/samples/subsys/greybus/uart/src/main.c
+++ b/samples/subsys/greybus/uart/src/main.c
@@ -7,13 +7,6 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <zephyr.h>
 
-struct device;
-extern int greybus_service_init(struct device *bus);
-
 void main(void)
 {
-	int r = greybus_service_init(NULL);
-	if (r < 0) {
-		printf("gb_service_deferred_init() failed: %d\n", r);
-	}
 }
diff --git a/subsys/greybus/CMakeLists.txt b/subsys/greybus/CMakeLists.txt
index 22d029e..16ef15a 100644
--- a/subsys/greybus/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/subsys/greybus/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ zephyr_library_sources(
 
 	platform/manifest.c
 	platform/platform.c
-	platform/deferred-init.c
 
 	platform/service.c
 
diff --git a/subsys/greybus/Kconfig b/subsys/greybus/Kconfig
index 8f4cbb1..84bedef 100644
--- a/subsys/greybus/Kconfig
+++ b/subsys/greybus/Kconfig
@@ -161,6 +161,41 @@ config GREYBUS_VIBRATOR
 	help
 	  Select this for Greybus Vibrator support.
 
+config GREYBUS_SERVICE_INIT_PRIORITY
+	int "default Greybus Service Init Priority"
+	default 85
+	range 0 99
+	help
+	  Greybus service init priority to ensure device initialization order.
+
+config GREYBUS_STRING_INIT_PRIORITY
+	int "default Greybus String Init Priority"
+	default 86
+	range 0 99
+	help
+	  Greybus string init priority to ensure device initialization order.
+
+config GREYBUS_INTERFACE_INIT_PRIORITY
+	int "default Greybus Interface Init Priority"
+	default 87
+	range 0 99
+	help
+	  Greybus interface init priority to ensure device initialization order.
+
+config GREYBUS_BUNDLE_INIT_PRIORITY
+	int "default Greybus Bundle Init Priority"
+	default 88
+	range 0 99
+	help
+	  Greybus bundle init priority to ensure device initialization order.
+
+config GREYBUS_CPORT_INIT_PRIORITY
+	int "default Greybus Cport Init Priority"
+	default 89
+	range 0 99
+	help
+	  Greybus cport init priority to ensure device initialization order.
+
 module = GREYBUS
 module-str = gb
 source "subsys/logging/Kconfig.template.log_config"
diff --git a/subsys/greybus/platform/bundle.c b/subsys/greybus/platform/bundle.c
index bd890ec..33bedaa 100644
--- a/subsys/greybus/platform/bundle.c
+++ b/subsys/greybus/platform/bundle.c
@@ -32,11 +32,6 @@ static int greybus_bundle_init(const struct device *dev) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-extern int gb_service_defer_init(const struct device *, int (*init)(const struct device *));
-static int defer_greybus_bundle_init(const struct device *dev) {
-	return gb_service_defer_init(dev, &greybus_bundle_init);
-}
-
 #define DEFINE_GREYBUS_BUNDLE(_num)                                     \
 																		\
         static const struct greybus_bundle_config 						\
@@ -48,10 +43,10 @@ static int defer_greybus_bundle_init(const struct device *dev) {
         };                                                              \
                                                                         \
         DEVICE_DT_INST_DEFINE(_num,										\
-                            defer_greybus_bundle_init,					\
+                            greybus_bundle_init,					\
 							NULL, NULL,									\
                             &greybus_bundle_config_##_num,				\
 							POST_KERNEL,								\
-                            CONFIG_KERNEL_INIT_PRIORITY_DEVICE, NULL);
+                            CONFIG_GREYBUS_BUNDLE_INIT_PRIORITY, NULL);
 
 DT_INST_FOREACH_STATUS_OKAY(DEFINE_GREYBUS_BUNDLE);
diff --git a/subsys/greybus/platform/bus.c b/subsys/greybus/platform/bus.c
index c1dc957..3b35097 100644
--- a/subsys/greybus/platform/bus.c
+++ b/subsys/greybus/platform/bus.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ static int greybus_init(const struct device *bus) {
 		DEVICE_DT_INST_DEFINE(_num,						\
 			greybus_init, NULL,	NULL,					\
 			&greybus_config_##_num, POST_KERNEL,		\
-			CONFIG_KERNEL_INIT_PRIORITY_DEVICE,			\
+			CONFIG_GREYBUS_SERVICE_INIT_PRIORITY,			\
 			NULL);
 
 DT_INST_FOREACH_STATUS_OKAY(DEFINE_GREYBUS);
diff --git a/subsys/greybus/platform/control.c b/subsys/greybus/platform/control.c
index ab7d8ed..606f8e6 100644
--- a/subsys/greybus/platform/control.c
+++ b/subsys/greybus/platform/control.c
@@ -32,11 +32,6 @@ static int greybus_control_init(const struct device *dev) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-extern int gb_service_defer_init(const struct device *, int (*init)(const struct device *));
-static int defer_greybus_control_init(const struct device *dev) {
-	return gb_service_defer_init(dev, &greybus_control_init);
-}
-
 #define DEFINE_GREYBUS_CONTROL(_num)										\
 																			\
 		BUILD_ASSERT(DT_PROP(DT_PARENT(DT_DRV_INST(_num)), bundle_class)	\
@@ -54,9 +49,9 @@ static int defer_greybus_control_init(const struct device *dev) {
         };																	\
         																	\
 		DEVICE_DT_INST_DEFINE(_num,											\
-                            defer_greybus_control_init,						\
+                            greybus_control_init,						\
 							NULL, NULL,										\
                             &greybus_control_config_##_num, POST_KERNEL,	\
-                            CONFIG_KERNEL_INIT_PRIORITY_DEVICE, NULL);
+                            CONFIG_GREYBUS_CPORT_INIT_PRIORITY, NULL);
 
 DT_INST_FOREACH_STATUS_OKAY(DEFINE_GREYBUS_CONTROL);
diff --git a/subsys/greybus/platform/deferred-init.c b/subsys/greybus/platform/deferred-init.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 8aa75d7..0000000
--- a/subsys/greybus/platform/deferred-init.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,88 +0,0 @@
-#include <errno.h>
-#include <stddef.h>
-#include <stdint.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
-
-/*
- * FIXME: currently, Zephyr does not guarantee that parent DeviceTree nodes are
- * initialized before child DeviceTree nodes. This has the unfortunate side
- * effect of pushing-off device initialization to the application.
- * It's possible that Zephyr may initialize things in the correct order if
- * phandles are used instead, but that isn't clear at this point.
- *
- * E: greybus bundle: failed to get driver_api for device 'GREYBUS_0'
- * E: greybus bundle: failed to get driver_api for device 'GREYBUS_0'
- * I: probed greybus: 0 major: 0 minor: 1
- * I: probed cport 0: class: 0 protocol: 0
- * I: probed cport 0: class: 10 protocol: 2
- * E: failed to get driver_api for device 'GREYBUS_0'
- * E: greybus string: driver_api was NULL
- * E: greybus string: driver_api was NULL
- * E: Cannot create zeth (-1)
- * *** Booting Zephyr OS build zephyr-v2.3.0-733-g5217cd775382  ***
- * I: Initializing network
- * I: IPv4 address: 192.0.2.1
- * I: test_main(): ahoy!
- * I: IPv6 address: fe80::5eff:fe00:533b
- * I: IPv6 address: fe80::5eff:fe00:533b
- * ^C
- *
- * pabigot is working on a PR to address this, which reorders custom
- * elf-sections at link-time in order to create the proper order.
- *
- * See https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/zephyr/pull/26616 for details.
- */
-
-struct definit {
-	struct device *dev;
-	int (*init)(struct device *);
-};
-static size_t definits_size;
-static struct definit *definits;
-
-int gb_service_defer_init(struct device *dev, int (*init)(struct device *)) {
-	size_t n = definits_size;
-	struct definit *tmp;
-
-	tmp = realloc(definits, (n + 1) * sizeof(*tmp));
-	if (NULL == tmp) {
-		return -ENOMEM;
-	}
-
-	definits = tmp;
-	definits[n].dev = dev;
-	definits[n].init = init;
-
-	definits_size++;
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
-int gb_service_deferred_init(void) {
-	int r = 0;
-	int rr = 0;
-	struct device *dev;
-	int (*init)(struct device *);
-
-	for(size_t i = 0; i < definits_size; ++i) {
-
-		dev = definits[i].dev;
-		init = definits[i].init;
-
-		r = init(dev);
-		if (r < 0) {
-			if (0 == rr) {
-				rr = r;
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (NULL != definits) {
-		free(definits);
-		definits = NULL;
-		definits_size = 0;
-	}
-
-	return rr;
-}
-
diff --git a/subsys/greybus/platform/gpio.c b/subsys/greybus/platform/gpio.c
index e0e67ef..d5e34d1 100644
--- a/subsys/greybus/platform/gpio.c
+++ b/subsys/greybus/platform/gpio.c
@@ -124,11 +124,6 @@ static int greybus_gpio_control_init(const struct device *dev) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-extern int gb_service_defer_init(const struct device *, int (*init)(const struct device *));
-static int defer_greybus_gpio_control_init(const struct device *dev) {
-	return gb_service_defer_init(dev, &greybus_gpio_control_init);
-}
-
 #define DEFINE_GREYBUS_GPIO_CONTROL(_num)										\
 																				\
 		BUILD_ASSERT(DT_PROP(DT_PARENT(DT_DRV_INST(_num)), bundle_class)		\
@@ -152,9 +147,9 @@ static int defer_greybus_gpio_control_init(const struct device *dev) {
 			greybus_gpio_control_data_##_num;									\
         																		\
         DEVICE_DT_INST_DEFINE(_num, 											\
-                            defer_greybus_gpio_control_init, NULL,				\
+                            greybus_gpio_control_init, NULL,				\
 							&greybus_gpio_control_data_##_num,					\
                             &greybus_gpio_control_config_##_num, POST_KERNEL,	\
-                            CONFIG_KERNEL_INIT_PRIORITY_DEVICE, NULL);
+                            CONFIG_GREYBUS_CPORT_INIT_PRIORITY, NULL);
 
 DT_INST_FOREACH_STATUS_OKAY(DEFINE_GREYBUS_GPIO_CONTROL);
diff --git a/subsys/greybus/platform/i2c.c b/subsys/greybus/platform/i2c.c
index 75518c9..ddba83d 100644
--- a/subsys/greybus/platform/i2c.c
+++ b/subsys/greybus/platform/i2c.c
@@ -61,11 +61,6 @@ static int greybus_i2c_control_init(const struct device *dev) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-extern int gb_service_defer_init(const struct device *, int (*init)(const struct device *));
-static int defer_greybus_i2c_control_init(const struct device *dev) {
-	return gb_service_defer_init(dev, &greybus_i2c_control_init);
-}
-
 #define DEFINE_GREYBUS_I2C_CONTROL(_num)										\
 																				\
 		BUILD_ASSERT(DT_PROP(DT_PARENT(DT_DRV_INST(_num)), bundle_class)		\
@@ -89,9 +84,9 @@ static int defer_greybus_i2c_control_init(const struct device *dev) {
 			greybus_i2c_control_data_##_num;									\
         																		\
         DEVICE_INIT(i2c_i2c_control_##_num, "GBI2C_" #_num,					\
-                            defer_greybus_i2c_control_init,					\
+                            greybus_i2c_control_init,					\
 							&greybus_i2c_control_data_##_num,					\
                             &greybus_i2c_control_config_##_num, POST_KERNEL,	\
-                            CONFIG_KERNEL_INIT_PRIORITY_DEVICE);
+                            CONFIG_GREYBUS_CPORT_INIT_PRIORITY);
 
 DT_INST_FOREACH_STATUS_OKAY(DEFINE_GREYBUS_I2C_CONTROL);
diff --git a/subsys/greybus/platform/interface.c b/subsys/greybus/platform/interface.c
index 31f37d3..a5ac29c 100644
--- a/subsys/greybus/platform/interface.c
+++ b/subsys/greybus/platform/interface.c
@@ -33,12 +33,6 @@ static int greybus_interface_init(const struct device *dev) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-extern int gb_service_defer_init(const struct device *, int (*init)(const struct device *));
-static int defer_greybus_interface_init(const struct device *dev) {
-	return gb_service_defer_init(dev, &greybus_interface_init);
-}
-
-
 #define DEFINE_GREYBUS_INTERFACE(_num)						\
 															\
         static const struct greybus_interface_config		\
@@ -55,9 +49,9 @@ static int defer_greybus_interface_init(const struct device *dev) {
         };													\
         													\
         DEVICE_DT_INST_DEFINE(_num, 						\
-			defer_greybus_interface_init,					\
+			greybus_interface_init,					\
 			NULL, NULL,										\
 			&greybus_interface_config_##_num, POST_KERNEL,	\
-			CONFIG_KERNEL_INIT_PRIORITY_DEVICE, NULL);
+			CONFIG_GREYBUS_INTERFACE_INIT_PRIORITY, NULL);
 
 DT_INST_FOREACH_STATUS_OKAY(DEFINE_GREYBUS_INTERFACE);
diff --git a/subsys/greybus/platform/service.c b/subsys/greybus/platform/service.c
index f2c425c..971d3ce 100644
--- a/subsys/greybus/platform/service.c
+++ b/subsys/greybus/platform/service.c
@@ -40,23 +40,23 @@ gb_transport_get_backend(void)
 	return xport;
 }
 
-int greybus_service_init(const struct device *bus)
+static int greybus_service_init(const struct device *bus)
 {
-    int r;
+	int r;
 	uint8_t *mnfb;
 	size_t mnfb_size;
-    unsigned int *cports = NULL;
+	unsigned int *cports = NULL;
 
-    LOG_DBG("Greybus initializing..");
-
-	r = gb_service_deferred_init();
-	if (r < 0) {
-		LOG_ERR("gb_service_deferred_init() failed: %d", r);
-		goto out;
+	if (xport != NULL) {
+		LOG_ERR("service already initialized");
+		return -EALREADY;
 	}
 
+	LOG_DBG("Greybus initializing..");
+
 	bus = device_get_binding(GREYBUS_BUS_NAME);
 	if (NULL == bus) {
+		r = -ENODEV;
 		LOG_ERR("failed to get " GREYBUS_BUS_NAME " device");
 		goto out;
 	}
@@ -114,4 +114,4 @@ int greybus_service_init(const struct device *bus)
     return r;
 }
 
-//SYS_INIT(greybus_service_init, POST_KERNEL, CONFIG_APPLICATION_INIT_PRIORITY);
+SYS_INIT(greybus_service_init, APPLICATION, CONFIG_APPLICATION_INIT_PRIORITY);
diff --git a/subsys/greybus/platform/spi.c b/subsys/greybus/platform/spi.c
index b682c00..98bbc35 100644
--- a/subsys/greybus/platform/spi.c
+++ b/subsys/greybus/platform/spi.c
@@ -156,11 +156,6 @@ static int greybus_spi_control_init(const struct device *dev) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-extern int gb_service_defer_init(const struct device *, int (*init)(const struct device *));
-static int defer_greybus_spi_control_init(const struct device *dev) {
-	return gb_service_defer_init(dev, &greybus_spi_control_init);
-}
-
 static int gb_plat_api_controller_config_response(const struct device *dev, struct gb_spi_master_config_response *rsp)
 {
 	if (dev == NULL || NULL == rsp) {
@@ -323,10 +318,10 @@ static const struct gb_platform_spi_api gb_platform_spi_api = {
 			greybus_spi_control_data_##_num;									\
         																		\
         DEVICE_DT_INST_DEFINE(_num, 										\
-                            defer_greybus_spi_control_init,					\
+                            greybus_spi_control_init,					\
 			    NULL, &greybus_spi_control_data_##_num,					\
                             &greybus_spi_control_config_##_num, POST_KERNEL,	\
-                            CONFIG_KERNEL_INIT_PRIORITY_DEVICE, \
+                            CONFIG_GREYBUS_CPORT_INIT_PRIORITY, \
               &gb_platform_spi_api);
 
 DT_INST_FOREACH_STATUS_OKAY(DEFINE_GREYBUS_SPI_CONTROL);
diff --git a/subsys/greybus/platform/string.c b/subsys/greybus/platform/string.c
index 3b314b7..0d60491 100644
--- a/subsys/greybus/platform/string.c
+++ b/subsys/greybus/platform/string.c
@@ -29,11 +29,6 @@ static int greybus_string_init(const struct device *dev) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-extern int gb_service_defer_init(const struct device *, int (*init)(const struct device *));
-static int defer_greybus_string_init(const struct device *dev) {
-	return gb_service_defer_init(dev, &greybus_string_init);
-}
-
 #define DEFINE_GREYBUS_STRING(_num)                                     \
 																		\
         static const struct greybus_string_config 						\
@@ -45,8 +40,8 @@ static int defer_greybus_string_init(const struct device *dev) {
         };                                                              \
                                                                         \
 		DEVICE_DT_INST_DEFINE(_num,										\
-        					defer_greybus_string_init, NULL, NULL,		\
+        					greybus_string_init, NULL, NULL,		\
                             &greybus_string_config_##_num, POST_KERNEL,	\
-                            CONFIG_KERNEL_INIT_PRIORITY_DEVICE, NULL);
+                            CONFIG_GREYBUS_STRING_INIT_PRIORITY, NULL);
 
 DT_INST_FOREACH_STATUS_OKAY(DEFINE_GREYBUS_STRING);
diff --git a/tests/subsys/greybus/gpio/src/gpio.c b/tests/subsys/greybus/gpio/src/gpio.c
index 39f5a71..e914bf0 100644
--- a/tests/subsys/greybus/gpio/src/gpio.c
+++ b/tests/subsys/greybus/gpio/src/gpio.c
@@ -85,9 +85,6 @@ void test_greybus_setup(void) {
 
 	*port = htons(PORT);
 
-	extern int greybus_service_init(const struct device *);
-	greybus_service_init(NULL);
-
 	gpio_dev = (struct device *)device_get_binding(GPIO_DEV_NAME);
 	zassert_not_equal(gpio_dev, NULL, "failed to get device binding for " GPIO_DEV_NAME);