diff --git a/boards/arm/rpi_pico/rpi_pico_defconfig b/boards/arm/rpi_pico/rpi_pico_defconfig
index 939e92d10ef..7c3fa601d0e 100644
--- a/boards/arm/rpi_pico/rpi_pico_defconfig
+++ b/boards/arm/rpi_pico/rpi_pico_defconfig
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 CONFIG_SOC_SERIES_RP2XXX=y
 CONFIG_SOC_RP2040=y
+CONFIG_ARM_MPU=y
 CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_HW_CYCLES_PER_SEC=125000000
 CONFIG_SERIAL=y
 CONFIG_CONSOLE=y