diff --git a/soc/arm/nordic_nrf/Kconfig.defconfig b/soc/arm/nordic_nrf/Kconfig.defconfig
index 4ca5dacae1f..c5294880832 100644
--- a/soc/arm/nordic_nrf/Kconfig.defconfig
+++ b/soc/arm/nordic_nrf/Kconfig.defconfig
@@ -26,4 +26,11 @@ config ENTROPY_NRF5_RNG
 
 endif # ENTROPY_GENERATOR
 
+if SPI
+
+config GPIO
+	default y
+
+endif # SPI
+
 endif # SOC_FAMILY_NRF