diff --git a/tests/bluetooth/init/prj_ctlr_4_0_dbg.conf b/tests/bluetooth/init/prj_ctlr_4_0_dbg.conf
index 59314c494d7..372d4a29010 100644
--- a/tests/bluetooth/init/prj_ctlr_4_0_dbg.conf
+++ b/tests/bluetooth/init/prj_ctlr_4_0_dbg.conf
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ CONFIG_BT_CTLR_CONN_RSSI=n
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_ADV_INDICATION=n
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_SCAN_REQ_NOTIFY=n
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_SCAN_REQ_RSSI=n
+CONFIG_BT_CTLR_OPTIMIZE_FOR_APP_DEFAULT=y
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_PROFILE_ISR=n
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_DEBUG_PINS=n
 CONFIG_BT_HCI_VS=y
diff --git a/tests/bluetooth/init/prj_ctlr_5_x_dbg.conf b/tests/bluetooth/init/prj_ctlr_5_x_dbg.conf
index b65082eb70f..920a9f08860 100644
--- a/tests/bluetooth/init/prj_ctlr_5_x_dbg.conf
+++ b/tests/bluetooth/init/prj_ctlr_5_x_dbg.conf
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ CONFIG_BT_CTLR_SYNC_ISO_RESERVE_MAX=n
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_CENTRAL_RESERVE_MAX=n
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_CIS_ACCEPT_MIN_OFFSET_STRICT=y
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_EVENT_OVERHEAD_RESERVE_MAX=n
+CONFIG_BT_CTLR_OPTIMIZE_FOR_SIZE=y
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_PROFILE_ISR=y
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_DEBUG_PINS=y
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_TEST=y
diff --git a/tests/bluetooth/init/prj_ctlr_dbg.conf b/tests/bluetooth/init/prj_ctlr_dbg.conf
index 1b32cbf6dc9..386e81a33f9 100644
--- a/tests/bluetooth/init/prj_ctlr_dbg.conf
+++ b/tests/bluetooth/init/prj_ctlr_dbg.conf
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ CONFIG_BT_CTLR_ADV_INDICATION=y
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_SCAN_REQ_NOTIFY=y
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_SCAN_REQ_RSSI=y
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_SCAN_INDICATION=y
+CONFIG_BT_CTLR_OPTIMIZE_FOR_SPEED=y
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_PROFILE_ISR=y
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_DEBUG_PINS=y
 CONFIG_BT_CTLR_TEST=y