diff --git a/include/logging/log_ctrl.h b/include/logging/log_ctrl.h
index 03009ed4889..0a50b421278 100644
--- a/include/logging/log_ctrl.h
+++ b/include/logging/log_ctrl.h
@@ -170,10 +170,12 @@ void log_backend_enable(struct log_backend const *const backend,
 void log_backend_disable(struct log_backend const *const backend);
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_LOG)
+#define LOG_CORE_INIT() log_core_init()
 #define LOG_INIT() log_init()
 #define LOG_PANIC() log_panic()
 #define LOG_PROCESS() log_process(false)
 #else
+#define LOG_CORE_INIT() do { } while (false)
 #define LOG_INIT() 0
 #define LOG_PANIC() /* Empty */
 #define LOG_PROCESS() false
diff --git a/kernel/init.c b/kernel/init.c
index 556bf35d5d7..ad212fe97d3 100644
--- a/kernel/init.c
+++ b/kernel/init.c
@@ -481,9 +481,7 @@ FUNC_NORETURN void z_cstart(void)
 	/* gcov hook needed to get the coverage report.*/
 	gcov_static_init();
 
-	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_LOG)) {
-		log_core_init();
-	}
+	LOG_CORE_INIT();
 
 	/* perform any architecture-specific initialization */
 	z_arch_kernel_init();