diff --git a/kernel/Kconfig b/kernel/Kconfig
index cc36bb8d753..0a008821e68 100644
--- a/kernel/Kconfig
+++ b/kernel/Kconfig
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ if THREAD_RUNTIME_STATS
 
 config THREAD_RUNTIME_STATS_USE_TIMING_FUNCTIONS
 	bool "Use timing functions to gather statistics"
-	select TIMING_FUNCTIONS
+	select TIMING_FUNCTIONS_NEED_AT_BOOT
 	help
 	  Use timing functions to gather thread runtime statistics.
 
diff --git a/kernel/init.c b/kernel/init.c
index 4605836da5f..3448dde5584 100644
--- a/kernel/init.c
+++ b/kernel/init.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <debug/gcov.h>
 #include <kswap.h>
+#include <timing/timing.h>
 #include <logging/log.h>
 LOG_MODULE_REGISTER(os, CONFIG_KERNEL_LOG_LEVEL);
 
@@ -400,7 +401,7 @@ FUNC_NORETURN void z_cstart(void)
 	__stack_chk_guard <<= 8;
 #endif	/* CONFIG_STACK_CANARIES */
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_THREAD_RUNTIME_STATS_USE_TIMING_FUNCTIONS
+#ifdef CONFIG_TIMING_FUNCTIONS_NEED_AT_BOOT
 	timing_init();
 	timing_start();
 #endif
diff --git a/subsys/timing/Kconfig b/subsys/timing/Kconfig
index 8e4deff7440..fa359d18c34 100644
--- a/subsys/timing/Kconfig
+++ b/subsys/timing/Kconfig
@@ -7,3 +7,13 @@ config TIMING_FUNCTIONS
 	help
 	  When enabled, timing related functions are compiled. This is
 	  useful for gathering timing on code execution.
+
+config TIMING_FUNCTIONS_NEED_AT_BOOT
+	bool
+	select TIMING_FUNCTIONS
+	help
+	  Hidden option to indicate that timing functions need to be
+	  initialized at boot.
+
+	  To be selected by kernel and other subsystems which need
+	  to use timing functions.