diff --git a/soc/nordic/nrf53/Kconfig b/soc/nordic/nrf53/Kconfig
index 5440db2330d..99c6b17c844 100644
--- a/soc/nordic/nrf53/Kconfig
+++ b/soc/nordic/nrf53/Kconfig
@@ -163,6 +163,14 @@ config SOC_NRF53_CPUNET_ENABLE
 	  secure firmware image must already have configured GPIO allocation for the
 	  Network MCU.
 
+config BOARD_ENABLE_CPUNET
+	bool "[DEPRECATED] NRF53 Network MCU is enabled at boot time"
+	select SOC_NRF53_CPUNET_ENABLE
+	select DEPRECATED
+	depends on !BT
+	help
+	  Use SOC_NRF53_CPUNET_ENABLE instead.
+
 if !TRUSTED_EXECUTION_NONSECURE || BUILD_WITH_TFM
 
 config SOC_ENABLE_LFXO