diff --git a/kernel/include/kernel_internal.h b/kernel/include/kernel_internal.h
index 7dfa7d3f0fd..8ce31b22fbc 100644
--- a/kernel/include/kernel_internal.h
+++ b/kernel/include/kernel_internal.h
@@ -141,8 +141,10 @@ z_thread_return_value_set_with_data(struct k_thread *thread,
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_SMP
 extern void z_smp_init(void);
+#ifdef CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS
 extern void smp_timer_init(void);
 #endif
+#endif
 
 extern void z_early_boot_rand_get(uint8_t *buf, size_t length);
 
diff --git a/kernel/smp.c b/kernel/smp.c
index 2ec2ea478dc..8ae2116989e 100644
--- a/kernel/smp.c
+++ b/kernel/smp.c
@@ -85,7 +85,9 @@ static inline FUNC_NORETURN void smp_init_top(void *arg)
 
 	wait_for_start_signal(arg);
 	z_dummy_thread_init(&dummy_thread);
+#ifdef CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS
 	smp_timer_init();
+#endif
 
 	z_swap_unlocked();