diff --git a/soc/nordic/nrf54h/soc.c b/soc/nordic/nrf54h/soc.c
index fd1117e0163..e55f56242b9 100644
--- a/soc/nordic/nrf54h/soc.c
+++ b/soc/nordic/nrf54h/soc.c
@@ -153,7 +153,9 @@ void soc_early_init_hook(void)
 	nrf_spu_periph_perm_dmasec_set(spu, nrf_address_slave_get(ccm030_addr), true);
 #endif
 
-	if (DT_NODE_HAS_STATUS(DT_NODELABEL(nfct), disabled) &&
+	if (((IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SOC_NRF54H20_CPUAPP) &&
+	      DT_NODE_HAS_STATUS(DT_NODELABEL(nfct), disabled)) ||
+	     DT_NODE_HAS_STATUS(DT_NODELABEL(nfct), reserved)) &&
 	    DT_PROP_OR(DT_NODELABEL(nfct), nfct_pins_as_gpios, 0)) {
 		nrf_nfct_pad_config_enable_set(NRF_NFCT, false);
 	}