diff --git a/scripts/pylib/build_helpers/domains.py b/scripts/pylib/build_helpers/domains.py
index c748a94a14f..8cacac7b4e8 100644
--- a/scripts/pylib/build_helpers/domains.py
+++ b/scripts/pylib/build_helpers/domains.py
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@ mapping:
           build_dir:
             required: true
             type: str
+  flash_order:
+    required: false
+    type: seq
+    sequence:
+      - type: str
 '''
 
 schema = yaml.safe_load(DOMAINS_SCHEMA)
@@ -52,21 +57,19 @@ logger.addHandler(handler)
 class Domains:
 
     def __init__(self, data):
-        self._domains = []
-        self._domain_names = []
-        self._domain_default = []
-
         self._build_dir = data.get('build_dir')
-        domain_list = data.get('domains')
+        domain_list = data.get('domains') or []
         if not domain_list:
             logger.warning("no domains defined; this probably won't work")
 
-        for d in domain_list:
-            domain = Domain(d['name'], d['build_dir'])
-            self._domains.append(domain)
-            self._domain_names.append(domain.name)
-            if domain.name == data['default']:
-                self._default_domain = domain
+        self._domains = {
+            d['name']: Domain(d['name'], d['build_dir'])
+            for d in domain_list
+        }
+        self._default_domain = self._domains.get(data['default'])
+
+        domains_flash_order = data.get('flash_order') or []
+        self._flash_order = list(map(self._domains.get, domains_flash_order))
 
     @staticmethod
     def from_file(domains_file):
@@ -97,25 +100,21 @@ class Domains:
         '''
         return Domains(domains_data)
 
-    def get_domains(self, names=None):
+    def get_domains(self, names=None, default_flash_order=False):
         ret = []
 
         if not names:
-            return self._domains
+            if default_flash_order:
+                return self._flash_order
+            return list(self._domains.values())
 
         for n in names:
-            found = False
-            for d in self._domains:
-                if n == d.name:
-                    ret.append(d)
-                    found = True
-                    break
-            # Getting here means the domain was not found.
-            # Todo: throw an error.
+            found = self._domains.get(n)
             if not found:
                 logger.critical(f'domain {n} not found, '
-                        f'valid domains are:', *self._domain_names)
+                        f'valid domains are: {", ".join(self._domains)}')
                 exit(1)
+            ret.append(found)
         return ret
 
     def get_default_domain(self):
diff --git a/scripts/west_commands/build_helpers.py b/scripts/west_commands/build_helpers.py
index e4352ff1f28..88845e50f4b 100644
--- a/scripts/west_commands/build_helpers.py
+++ b/scripts/west_commands/build_helpers.py
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ def load_domains(path):
     if not domains_file.is_file():
         return Domains.from_data({'default': 'app',
                                   'build_dir': path,
-                                  'domains': [{'name': 'app', 'build_dir': path}]})
+                                  'domains': [{'name': 'app', 'build_dir': path}],
+                                  'flash_order': ['app']})
 
     return Domains.from_file(domains_file)
diff --git a/scripts/west_commands/flash.py b/scripts/west_commands/flash.py
index 073a1ab2a28..4f173535be8 100644
--- a/scripts/west_commands/flash.py
+++ b/scripts/west_commands/flash.py
@@ -28,5 +28,6 @@ class Flash(WestCommand):
 
     def do_run(self, my_args, runner_args):
         build_dir = get_build_dir(my_args)
-        domains = load_domains(build_dir).get_domains(my_args.domain)
+        domains = load_domains(build_dir).get_domains(my_args.domain,
+                                                      default_flash_order=True)
         do_run_common(self, my_args, runner_args, domains=domains)
diff --git a/share/sysbuild/cmake/domains.cmake b/share/sysbuild/cmake/domains.cmake
index c46d261aff2..1d197059bf1 100644
--- a/share/sysbuild/cmake/domains.cmake
+++ b/share/sysbuild/cmake/domains.cmake
@@ -7,12 +7,13 @@ sysbuild_images_order(IMAGES_FLASHING_ORDER FLASH IMAGES ${IMAGES})
 set(domains_yaml "default: ${DEFAULT_IMAGE}")
 set(domains_yaml "${domains_yaml}\nbuild_dir: ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}")
 set(domains_yaml "${domains_yaml}\ndomains:")
-foreach(image ${IMAGES_FLASHING_ORDER})
-  get_target_property(image_is_build_only ${image} BUILD_ONLY)
-  if(image_is_build_only)
-    continue()
-  endif()
+foreach(image ${IMAGES})
   set(domains_yaml "${domains_yaml}\n  - name: ${image}")
   set(domains_yaml "${domains_yaml}\n    build_dir: $<TARGET_PROPERTY:${image},_EP_BINARY_DIR>")
 endforeach()
+set(domains_yaml "${domains_yaml}\nflash_order:")
+foreach(image ${IMAGES_FLASHING_ORDER})
+  set(flash_cond "$<NOT:$<BOOL:$<TARGET_PROPERTY:${image},BUILD_ONLY>>>")
+  set(domains_yaml "${domains_yaml}$<${flash_cond}:\n  - ${image}>")
+endforeach()
 file(GENERATE OUTPUT ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/domains.yaml CONTENT "${domains_yaml}")