diff --git a/src/arch/x86_64/gdt.rs b/src/arch/x86_64/gdt.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3c57607
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/arch/x86_64/gdt.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+//! Global Descriptor Table (GDT) for x86-64
+//!
+//! This module provides a kernel-space GDT that can be used after
+//! identity mapping is removed.
+
+use core::arch::asm;
+use core::mem::size_of;
+
+/// GDT entry (segment descriptor)
+#[repr(C, packed)]
+#[derive(Clone, Copy)]
+pub struct GdtEntry {
+    limit_low: u16,
+    base_low: u16,
+    base_mid: u8,
+    access: u8,
+    flags_limit_high: u8,
+    base_high: u8,
+}
+
+impl GdtEntry {
+    /// Create a null descriptor
+    pub const fn null() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            limit_low: 0,
+            base_low: 0,
+            base_mid: 0,
+            access: 0,
+            flags_limit_high: 0,
+            base_high: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Create a 64-bit code segment descriptor
+    pub const fn code64() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            limit_low: 0xFFFF,
+            base_low: 0,
+            base_mid: 0,
+            access: 0x9A,       // Present, ring 0, code, exec/read
+            flags_limit_high: 0xAF, // 64-bit, limit high nibble
+            base_high: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Create a data segment descriptor
+    pub const fn data() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            limit_low: 0xFFFF,
+            base_low: 0,
+            base_mid: 0,
+            access: 0x92,       // Present, ring 0, data, read/write
+            flags_limit_high: 0xCF, // 32-bit, 4KB granularity
+            base_high: 0,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// GDT pointer for LGDT instruction
+#[repr(C, packed)]
+pub struct GdtPointer {
+    limit: u16,
+    base: u64,
+}
+
+/// Number of GDT entries
+const GDT_ENTRIES: usize = 3;
+
+/// Kernel GDT with null, code, and data segments
+#[repr(C, align(16))]
+pub struct Gdt {
+    entries: [GdtEntry; GDT_ENTRIES],
+}
+
+impl Gdt {
+    pub const fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            entries: [
+                GdtEntry::null(),   // 0x00: Null descriptor
+                GdtEntry::code64(), // 0x08: Kernel code segment
+                GdtEntry::data(),   // 0x10: Kernel data segment
+            ],
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Static kernel GDT (in higher-half memory)
+static KERNEL_GDT: Gdt = Gdt::new();
+
+/// Reload the GDT with the kernel-space GDT
+///
+/// This should be called before removing identity mapping to ensure
+/// the GDT is accessible after the low memory is unmapped.
+pub fn reload() {
+    let pointer = GdtPointer {
+        limit: (size_of::<[GdtEntry; GDT_ENTRIES]>() - 1) as u16,
+        base: KERNEL_GDT.entries.as_ptr() as u64,
+    };
+
+    unsafe {
+        // Load new GDT
+        asm!("lgdt [{}]", in(reg) &pointer, options(nostack, preserves_flags));
+
+        // Reload code segment by doing a far return
+        // Push SS, RSP, RFLAGS, CS, RIP and do IRETQ
+        asm!(
+            "push 0x10",        // SS
+            "push rsp",         // RSP
+            "add qword ptr [rsp], 8", // Adjust for the push
+            "pushfq",           // RFLAGS
+            "push 0x08",        // CS
+            "lea rax, [rip + 2f]", // RIP (address of label 2)
+            "push rax",
+            "iretq",
+            "2:",
+            // Reload data segments
+            "mov ax, 0x10",
+            "mov ds, ax",
+            "mov es, ax",
+            "mov fs, ax",
+            "mov gs, ax",
+            // SS is already set by IRETQ
+            out("rax") _,
+            options(preserves_flags)
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+/// Get the kernel code segment selector
+pub const fn kernel_cs() -> u16 {
+    0x08
+}
+
+/// Get the kernel data segment selector
+pub const fn kernel_ds() -> u16 {
+    0x10
+}
diff --git a/src/arch/x86_64/interrupts.rs b/src/arch/x86_64/interrupts.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a6dd88a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/arch/x86_64/interrupts.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,452 @@
+//! Interrupt Descriptor Table (IDT) and interrupt handling for x86-64
+//!
+//! This module sets up the IDT and provides handlers for CPU exceptions
+//! and hardware interrupts.
+
+use core::arch::asm;
+use core::mem::size_of;
+
+/// Number of IDT entries (0-255)
+pub const IDT_ENTRIES: usize = 256;
+
+/// IDT Gate types
+#[repr(u8)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+pub enum GateType {
+    /// Interrupt gate - clears IF flag (disables interrupts)
+    Interrupt = 0xE,
+    /// Trap gate - does not clear IF flag
+    Trap = 0xF,
+}
+
+/// An entry in the Interrupt Descriptor Table (64-bit mode)
+#[repr(C, packed)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+pub struct IdtEntry {
+    /// Offset bits 0-15
+    offset_low: u16,
+    /// Code segment selector
+    selector: u16,
+    /// Bits 0-2: IST index, bits 3-7: reserved (0)
+    ist: u8,
+    /// Type and attributes: P(1) DPL(2) 0(1) Type(4)
+    type_attr: u8,
+    /// Offset bits 16-31
+    offset_mid: u16,
+    /// Offset bits 32-63
+    offset_high: u32,
+    /// Reserved (must be 0)
+    reserved: u32,
+}
+
+impl IdtEntry {
+    /// Create an empty (not present) IDT entry
+    pub const fn empty() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            offset_low: 0,
+            selector: 0,
+            ist: 0,
+            type_attr: 0,
+            offset_mid: 0,
+            offset_high: 0,
+            reserved: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Create a new IDT entry
+    ///
+    /// # Arguments
+    /// * `handler` - Address of the interrupt handler function
+    /// * `selector` - Code segment selector (usually 0x08 for kernel code)
+    /// * `gate_type` - Type of gate (Interrupt or Trap)
+    /// * `dpl` - Descriptor Privilege Level (0-3)
+    /// * `ist` - Interrupt Stack Table index (0 = no IST)
+    pub const fn new(handler: u64, selector: u16, gate_type: GateType, dpl: u8, ist: u8) -> Self {
+        let type_attr = (1 << 7)  // Present bit
+            | ((dpl & 0x3) << 5)  // DPL
+            | (gate_type as u8);  // Gate type
+
+        Self {
+            offset_low: handler as u16,
+            selector,
+            ist: ist & 0x7,
+            type_attr,
+            offset_mid: (handler >> 16) as u16,
+            offset_high: (handler >> 32) as u32,
+            reserved: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Set the handler address
+    pub fn set_handler(&mut self, handler: u64) {
+        self.offset_low = handler as u16;
+        self.offset_mid = (handler >> 16) as u16;
+        self.offset_high = (handler >> 32) as u32;
+    }
+
+    /// Check if this entry is present
+    pub const fn is_present(&self) -> bool {
+        self.type_attr & (1 << 7) != 0
+    }
+}
+
+/// IDT descriptor for LIDT instruction
+#[repr(C, packed)]
+pub struct IdtDescriptor {
+    /// Size of IDT minus 1
+    limit: u16,
+    /// Virtual address of the IDT
+    base: u64,
+}
+
+/// The Interrupt Descriptor Table
+#[repr(C, align(16))]
+pub struct Idt {
+    entries: [IdtEntry; IDT_ENTRIES],
+}
+
+impl Idt {
+    /// Create a new IDT with all entries empty
+    pub const fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            entries: [IdtEntry::empty(); IDT_ENTRIES],
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Set an interrupt handler
+    pub fn set_handler(&mut self, vector: u8, handler: u64, gate_type: GateType) {
+        self.entries[vector as usize] = IdtEntry::new(
+            handler,
+            0x08, // Kernel code segment
+            gate_type,
+            0,    // DPL 0 (kernel)
+            0,    // No IST
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+/// Interrupt stack frame pushed by CPU on interrupt/exception
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
+pub struct InterruptStackFrame {
+    /// Instruction pointer
+    pub rip: u64,
+    /// Code segment
+    pub cs: u64,
+    /// CPU flags
+    pub rflags: u64,
+    /// Stack pointer
+    pub rsp: u64,
+    /// Stack segment
+    pub ss: u64,
+}
+
+/// Exception vector numbers
+pub mod vectors {
+    pub const DIVIDE_ERROR: u8 = 0;
+    pub const DEBUG: u8 = 1;
+    pub const NMI: u8 = 2;
+    pub const BREAKPOINT: u8 = 3;
+    pub const OVERFLOW: u8 = 4;
+    pub const BOUND_RANGE: u8 = 5;
+    pub const INVALID_OPCODE: u8 = 6;
+    pub const DEVICE_NOT_AVAILABLE: u8 = 7;
+    pub const DOUBLE_FAULT: u8 = 8;
+    pub const INVALID_TSS: u8 = 10;
+    pub const SEGMENT_NOT_PRESENT: u8 = 11;
+    pub const STACK_SEGMENT: u8 = 12;
+    pub const GENERAL_PROTECTION: u8 = 13;
+    pub const PAGE_FAULT: u8 = 14;
+    pub const X87_FLOATING_POINT: u8 = 16;
+    pub const ALIGNMENT_CHECK: u8 = 17;
+    pub const MACHINE_CHECK: u8 = 18;
+    pub const SIMD_FLOATING_POINT: u8 = 19;
+    pub const VIRTUALIZATION: u8 = 20;
+    pub const CONTROL_PROTECTION: u8 = 21;
+    pub const HYPERVISOR_INJECTION: u8 = 28;
+    pub const VMM_COMMUNICATION: u8 = 29;
+    pub const SECURITY: u8 = 30;
+}
+
+/// Exception names for debugging
+pub fn exception_name(vector: u8) -> &'static str {
+    match vector {
+        0 => "Divide Error",
+        1 => "Debug",
+        2 => "Non-Maskable Interrupt",
+        3 => "Breakpoint",
+        4 => "Overflow",
+        5 => "Bound Range Exceeded",
+        6 => "Invalid Opcode",
+        7 => "Device Not Available",
+        8 => "Double Fault",
+        9 => "Coprocessor Segment Overrun",
+        10 => "Invalid TSS",
+        11 => "Segment Not Present",
+        12 => "Stack-Segment Fault",
+        13 => "General Protection Fault",
+        14 => "Page Fault",
+        16 => "x87 Floating-Point Exception",
+        17 => "Alignment Check",
+        18 => "Machine Check",
+        19 => "SIMD Floating-Point Exception",
+        20 => "Virtualization Exception",
+        21 => "Control Protection Exception",
+        28 => "Hypervisor Injection Exception",
+        29 => "VMM Communication Exception",
+        30 => "Security Exception",
+        _ => "Unknown Exception",
+    }
+}
+
+/// Check if an exception pushes an error code
+pub const fn has_error_code(vector: u8) -> bool {
+    matches!(vector, 8 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 29 | 30)
+}
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Global IDT and Initialization
+// ============================================================================
+
+use core::cell::UnsafeCell;
+
+/// Wrapper for static IDT that can be safely shared (single-threaded init)
+#[repr(transparent)]
+struct StaticIdt(UnsafeCell<Idt>);
+
+// SAFETY: IDT is only mutated during single-threaded init
+unsafe impl Sync for StaticIdt {}
+
+/// Static IDT for loading (must be 'static for LIDT)
+static STATIC_IDT: StaticIdt = StaticIdt(UnsafeCell::new(Idt::new()));
+
+/// Initialize the IDT with default exception handlers
+pub fn init() {
+    use core::fmt::Write;
+    use crate::serial::SerialPort;
+
+    let mut serial = unsafe { SerialPort::new(0x3F8) };
+
+    // SAFETY: Single-threaded initialization
+    let idt = unsafe { &mut *STATIC_IDT.0.get() };
+
+    // Set up exception handlers (vectors 0-31)
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::DIVIDE_ERROR, divide_error_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::DEBUG, debug_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::NMI, nmi_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Interrupt);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::BREAKPOINT, breakpoint_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::OVERFLOW, overflow_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::BOUND_RANGE, bound_range_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::INVALID_OPCODE, invalid_opcode_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::DEVICE_NOT_AVAILABLE, device_not_available_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::DOUBLE_FAULT, double_fault_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::INVALID_TSS, invalid_tss_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::SEGMENT_NOT_PRESENT, segment_not_present_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::STACK_SEGMENT, stack_segment_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::GENERAL_PROTECTION, general_protection_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::PAGE_FAULT, page_fault_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::X87_FLOATING_POINT, x87_fp_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::ALIGNMENT_CHECK, alignment_check_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::MACHINE_CHECK, machine_check_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+    idt.set_handler(vectors::SIMD_FLOATING_POINT, simd_fp_handler as *const () as u64, GateType::Trap);
+
+    // Load the IDT
+    // SAFETY: STATIC_IDT lives for 'static
+    unsafe {
+        load_idt(STATIC_IDT.0.get());
+    }
+
+    writeln!(serial, "    IDT initialized with {} entries", IDT_ENTRIES).ok();
+}
+
+/// Load IDT from a raw pointer
+unsafe fn load_idt(idt: *const Idt) {
+    let descriptor = IdtDescriptor {
+        limit: (size_of::<[IdtEntry; IDT_ENTRIES]>() - 1) as u16,
+        base: unsafe { (*idt).entries.as_ptr() as u64 },
+    };
+
+    unsafe {
+        asm!("lidt [{}]", in(reg) &descriptor, options(nostack, preserves_flags));
+    }
+}
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Exception Handlers
+// ============================================================================
+
+// Macro to generate exception handler stubs
+macro_rules! exception_handler {
+    ($name:ident, $vector:expr, no_error_code) => {
+        #[unsafe(naked)]
+        extern "C" fn $name() {
+            core::arch::naked_asm!(
+                // Push dummy error code for uniform stack frame
+                "push 0",
+                // Push vector number
+                "push {vector}",
+                // Jump to common handler
+                "jmp {common}",
+                vector = const $vector,
+                common = sym exception_common,
+            );
+        }
+    };
+    ($name:ident, $vector:expr, error_code) => {
+        #[unsafe(naked)]
+        extern "C" fn $name() {
+            core::arch::naked_asm!(
+                // Error code already on stack
+                // Push vector number
+                "push {vector}",
+                // Jump to common handler
+                "jmp {common}",
+                vector = const $vector,
+                common = sym exception_common,
+            );
+        }
+    };
+}
+
+/// Common exception handler - saves state and calls Rust handler
+#[unsafe(naked)]
+extern "C" fn exception_common() {
+    core::arch::naked_asm!(
+        // Save all general-purpose registers
+        "push rax",
+        "push rbx",
+        "push rcx",
+        "push rdx",
+        "push rsi",
+        "push rdi",
+        "push rbp",
+        "push r8",
+        "push r9",
+        "push r10",
+        "push r11",
+        "push r12",
+        "push r13",
+        "push r14",
+        "push r15",
+
+        // First argument (rdi) = pointer to saved state on stack
+        "mov rdi, rsp",
+        // Call Rust exception handler
+        "call {handler}",
+
+        // Restore all general-purpose registers
+        "pop r15",
+        "pop r14",
+        "pop r13",
+        "pop r12",
+        "pop r11",
+        "pop r10",
+        "pop r9",
+        "pop r8",
+        "pop rbp",
+        "pop rdi",
+        "pop rsi",
+        "pop rdx",
+        "pop rcx",
+        "pop rbx",
+        "pop rax",
+
+        // Remove vector number and error code
+        "add rsp, 16",
+
+        // Return from interrupt
+        "iretq",
+
+        handler = sym rust_exception_handler,
+    );
+}
+
+/// Saved CPU state during exception
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct ExceptionState {
+    // Pushed by exception_common (in reverse order)
+    pub r15: u64,
+    pub r14: u64,
+    pub r13: u64,
+    pub r12: u64,
+    pub r11: u64,
+    pub r10: u64,
+    pub r9: u64,
+    pub r8: u64,
+    pub rbp: u64,
+    pub rdi: u64,
+    pub rsi: u64,
+    pub rdx: u64,
+    pub rcx: u64,
+    pub rbx: u64,
+    pub rax: u64,
+    // Pushed by handler stub
+    pub vector: u64,
+    pub error_code: u64,
+    // Pushed by CPU
+    pub rip: u64,
+    pub cs: u64,
+    pub rflags: u64,
+    pub rsp: u64,
+    pub ss: u64,
+}
+
+/// Rust exception handler - called from assembly
+extern "C" fn rust_exception_handler(state: &ExceptionState) {
+    use core::fmt::Write;
+    use crate::serial::SerialPort;
+
+    let mut serial = unsafe { SerialPort::new(0x3F8) };
+
+    writeln!(serial, "").ok();
+    writeln!(serial, "!!! EXCEPTION: {} (vector {})",
+             exception_name(state.vector as u8), state.vector).ok();
+    writeln!(serial, "    Error code: {:#x}", state.error_code).ok();
+    writeln!(serial, "    RIP: {:#x}  CS: {:#x}", state.rip, state.cs).ok();
+    writeln!(serial, "    RSP: {:#x}  SS: {:#x}", state.rsp, state.ss).ok();
+    writeln!(serial, "    RFLAGS: {:#x}", state.rflags).ok();
+    writeln!(serial, "    RAX: {:#018x}  RBX: {:#018x}", state.rax, state.rbx).ok();
+    writeln!(serial, "    RCX: {:#018x}  RDX: {:#018x}", state.rcx, state.rdx).ok();
+    writeln!(serial, "    RSI: {:#018x}  RDI: {:#018x}", state.rsi, state.rdi).ok();
+    writeln!(serial, "    RBP: {:#018x}  R8:  {:#018x}", state.rbp, state.r8).ok();
+    writeln!(serial, "    R9:  {:#018x}  R10: {:#018x}", state.r9, state.r10).ok();
+    writeln!(serial, "    R11: {:#018x}  R12: {:#018x}", state.r11, state.r12).ok();
+    writeln!(serial, "    R13: {:#018x}  R14: {:#018x}", state.r13, state.r14).ok();
+    writeln!(serial, "    R15: {:#018x}", state.r15).ok();
+
+    // For page faults, also print CR2 (faulting address)
+    if state.vector == vectors::PAGE_FAULT as u64 {
+        let cr2: u64;
+        unsafe { asm!("mov {}, cr2", out(reg) cr2, options(nostack, preserves_flags)); }
+        writeln!(serial, "    CR2 (fault addr): {:#x}", cr2).ok();
+    }
+
+    writeln!(serial, "").ok();
+    writeln!(serial, "System halted.").ok();
+
+    // Halt the system
+    loop {
+        unsafe { asm!("cli; hlt", options(nostack, nomem)); }
+    }
+}
+
+// Generate exception handlers
+exception_handler!(divide_error_handler, 0, no_error_code);
+exception_handler!(debug_handler, 1, no_error_code);
+exception_handler!(nmi_handler, 2, no_error_code);
+exception_handler!(breakpoint_handler, 3, no_error_code);
+exception_handler!(overflow_handler, 4, no_error_code);
+exception_handler!(bound_range_handler, 5, no_error_code);
+exception_handler!(invalid_opcode_handler, 6, no_error_code);
+exception_handler!(device_not_available_handler, 7, no_error_code);
+exception_handler!(double_fault_handler, 8, error_code);
+exception_handler!(invalid_tss_handler, 10, error_code);
+exception_handler!(segment_not_present_handler, 11, error_code);
+exception_handler!(stack_segment_handler, 12, error_code);
+exception_handler!(general_protection_handler, 13, error_code);
+exception_handler!(page_fault_handler, 14, error_code);
+exception_handler!(x87_fp_handler, 16, no_error_code);
+exception_handler!(alignment_check_handler, 17, error_code);
+exception_handler!(machine_check_handler, 18, no_error_code);
+exception_handler!(simd_fp_handler, 19, no_error_code);
diff --git a/src/arch/x86_64/mod.rs b/src/arch/x86_64/mod.rs
index cff642f..753524f 100644
--- a/src/arch/x86_64/mod.rs
+++ b/src/arch/x86_64/mod.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 //! x86_64 architecture support
 
+pub mod interrupts;
+pub mod gdt;
+
 /// Halt the CPU until the next interrupt
 #[inline]
 pub fn hlt() {
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index d2b9cf6..53915e7 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,72 @@
 #[cfg(test)]
 extern crate std;
 
+// Compiler-required memory intrinsics for no_std environments
+#[cfg(not(test))]
+mod intrinsics {
+    #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+    pub unsafe extern "C" fn memcpy(dest: *mut u8, src: *const u8, n: usize) -> *mut u8 {
+        let mut i = 0;
+        while i < n {
+            unsafe {
+                *dest.add(i) = *src.add(i);
+            }
+            i += 1;
+        }
+        dest
+    }
+
+    #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+    pub unsafe extern "C" fn memmove(dest: *mut u8, src: *const u8, n: usize) -> *mut u8 {
+        if src < dest as *const u8 {
+            // Copy backwards to handle overlapping regions
+            let mut i = n;
+            while i > 0 {
+                i -= 1;
+                unsafe {
+                    *dest.add(i) = *src.add(i);
+                }
+            }
+        } else {
+            // Copy forwards
+            let mut i = 0;
+            while i < n {
+                unsafe {
+                    *dest.add(i) = *src.add(i);
+                }
+                i += 1;
+            }
+        }
+        dest
+    }
+
+    #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+    pub unsafe extern "C" fn memset(dest: *mut u8, c: i32, n: usize) -> *mut u8 {
+        let mut i = 0;
+        while i < n {
+            unsafe {
+                *dest.add(i) = c as u8;
+            }
+            i += 1;
+        }
+        dest
+    }
+
+    #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+    pub unsafe extern "C" fn memcmp(s1: *const u8, s2: *const u8, n: usize) -> i32 {
+        let mut i = 0;
+        while i < n {
+            let a = unsafe { *s1.add(i) };
+            let b = unsafe { *s2.add(i) };
+            if a != b {
+                return a as i32 - b as i32;
+            }
+            i += 1;
+        }
+        0
+    }
+}
+
 // Re-export alloc for heap allocations (available after boot services)
 #[cfg(any(feature = "uefi", test))]
 extern crate alloc;
@@ -80,6 +146,11 @@ pub fn kernel_init(info: &BootInfo) -> ! {
              free_mem / (1024 * 1024),
              total_mem / (1024 * 1024)).ok();
 
+    // Initialize interrupt handling
+    writeln!(serial, "").ok();
+    writeln!(serial, ">>> Initializing interrupt handling...").ok();
+    arch::x86_64::interrupts::init();
+
     // Test allocating a few frames
     writeln!(serial, "").ok();
     writeln!(serial, ">>> Testing frame allocator...").ok();
@@ -193,6 +264,25 @@ pub fn kernel_init(info: &BootInfo) -> ! {
         }
     }
 
+    // Reload GDT to higher-half address before removing identity mapping
+    writeln!(serial, "").ok();
+    writeln!(serial, ">>> Reloading GDT to higher-half...").ok();
+    arch::x86_64::gdt::reload();
+    writeln!(serial, "    GDT reloaded").ok();
+
+    // Remove identity mapping - no longer needed now that we're in higher-half
+    writeln!(serial, "").ok();
+    writeln!(serial, ">>> Removing identity mapping...").ok();
+    memory::paging::remove_identity_mapping();
+
+    // Verify PML4[0] is now empty
+    let pml4_0 = memory::paging::read_pml4(0);
+    if pml4_0.is_present() {
+        writeln!(serial, "    WARNING: PML4[0] still present!").ok();
+    } else {
+        writeln!(serial, "    Identity mapping removed (PML4[0] cleared)").ok();
+    }
+
     writeln!(serial, "").ok();
     writeln!(serial, "Kernel initialization complete.").ok();
     writeln!(serial, "Halting CPU.").ok();
diff --git a/src/memory/paging.rs b/src/memory/paging.rs
index 408461c..cd5f1fe 100644
--- a/src/memory/paging.rs
+++ b/src/memory/paging.rs
@@ -427,6 +427,18 @@ pub fn flush_tlb() {
     }
 }
 
+/// Remove the identity mapping at PML4[0]
+///
+/// This should be called after the kernel is fully running in the higher-half
+/// and no longer needs the identity mapping set up during boot.
+pub fn remove_identity_mapping() {
+    // Clear PML4[0]
+    write_pml4(0, PageTableEntry::empty());
+
+    // Flush TLB to ensure the change takes effect
+    flush_tlb();
+}
+
 // ============================================================================
 // Page Table Creation and Mapping
 // ============================================================================