diff --git a/arch/arm/core/aarch32/cortex_m/vector_table.S b/arch/arm/core/aarch32/cortex_m/vector_table.S
index d73aabdcb54..dd85cb81bf6 100644
--- a/arch/arm/core/aarch32/cortex_m/vector_table.S
+++ b/arch/arm/core/aarch32/cortex_m/vector_table.S
@@ -80,14 +80,12 @@ SECTION_SUBSEC_FUNC(exc_vector_table,_vector_table_section,_vector_table)
     .word z_arm_exc_spurious
 #endif
 #if defined(CONFIG_CPU_CORTEX_M_HAS_SYSTICK)
-#if defined(CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS)
-    /* Install sys_clock_isr even if CORTEX_M_SYSTICK is not set
-     * (e.g. to support out-of-tree SysTick-based timer drivers).
-     */
+#if defined(CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS) && \
+    defined(CONFIG_CORTEX_M_SYSTICK_INSTALL_ISR)
     .word sys_clock_isr
 #else
     .word z_arm_exc_spurious
-#endif /* CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS */
+#endif /* CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS && CONFIG_CORTEX_M_SYSTICK_INSTALL_ISR */
 #else
     .word 0
 #endif /* CONFIG_CPU_CORTEX_M_HAS_SYSTICK */
diff --git a/drivers/timer/Kconfig.cortex_m_systick b/drivers/timer/Kconfig.cortex_m_systick
index f95ca3b656b..0887a2edc22 100644
--- a/drivers/timer/Kconfig.cortex_m_systick
+++ b/drivers/timer/Kconfig.cortex_m_systick
@@ -17,6 +17,14 @@ config CORTEX_M_SYSTICK
 		$(dt_compat_enabled,$(DT_COMPAT_ARM_V8_1M_SYSTICK))
 	select TICKLESS_CAPABLE
 	select SYSTEM_TIMER_HAS_DISABLE_SUPPORT
+	select CORTEX_M_SYSTICK_INSTALL_ISR
 	help
 	  This module implements a kernel device driver for the Cortex-M processor
 	  SYSTICK timer and provides the standard "system clock driver" interfaces.
+
+config CORTEX_M_SYSTICK_INSTALL_ISR
+	bool
+	depends on CPU_CORTEX_M_HAS_SYSTICK
+	help
+	  This option should be selected by SysTick-based drivers so that the
+	  sys_clock_isr() function is installed.
diff --git a/drivers/timer/sys_clock_init.c b/drivers/timer/sys_clock_init.c
index ea60adb67a2..5de7fa28a5e 100644
--- a/drivers/timer/sys_clock_init.c
+++ b/drivers/timer/sys_clock_init.c
@@ -18,11 +18,6 @@
 
 /* Weak-linked noop defaults for optional driver interfaces*/
 
-void __weak sys_clock_isr(void *arg)
-{
-	__ASSERT_NO_MSG(false);
-}
-
 void __weak sys_clock_set_timeout(int32_t ticks, bool idle)
 {
 }
diff --git a/soc/arm/nxp_imx/rt6xx/soc.c b/soc/arm/nxp_imx/rt6xx/soc.c
index c11e1661ed4..63fa0dabbbb 100644
--- a/soc/arm/nxp_imx/rt6xx/soc.c
+++ b/soc/arm/nxp_imx/rt6xx/soc.c
@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@ __imx_boot_ivt_section void (* const image_vector_table[])(void)  = {
 	z_arm_debug_monitor,	/* 0x30 */
 	(void (*)())image_vector_table,		/* 0x34, imageLoadAddress. */
 	z_arm_pendsv,						/* 0x38 */
-#if defined(CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS)
+#if defined(CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS) && \
+	defined(CONFIG_CORTEX_M_SYSTICK_INSTALL_ISR)
 	sys_clock_isr,						/* 0x3C */
 #else
 	z_arm_exc_spurious,