diff --git a/soc/nordic/nrf53/Kconfig b/soc/nordic/nrf53/Kconfig
index d221f7772ff..8aade63f54a 100644
--- a/soc/nordic/nrf53/Kconfig
+++ b/soc/nordic/nrf53/Kconfig
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ config SOC_SERIES_NRF53X
 	select ARM
 	select SOC_COMPATIBLE_NRF53X
 	select SOC_EARLY_INIT_HOOK
-	select SOC_LATE_INIT_HOOK
+	select SOC_LATE_INIT_HOOK if SOC_NRF53_RTC_PRETICK || SOC_NRF53_CPUNET_ENABLE
 	select CPU_CORTEX_M33
 	select CPU_CORTEX_M_HAS_DWT
 	select CPU_HAS_ARM_MPU
diff --git a/soc/nordic/nrf53/nrf53_cpunet_mgmt.c b/soc/nordic/nrf53/nrf53_cpunet_mgmt.c
index 9c869a2ecc0..f566fafff09 100644
--- a/soc/nordic/nrf53/nrf53_cpunet_mgmt.c
+++ b/soc/nordic/nrf53/nrf53_cpunet_mgmt.c
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ void nrf53_cpunet_enable(bool on)
 }
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_SOC_NRF53_CPUNET_ENABLE
-static int nrf53_cpunet_init(void)
+void nrf53_cpunet_init(void)
 {
 #if !defined(CONFIG_TRUSTED_EXECUTION_NONSECURE)
 	/* Retain nRF5340 Network MCU in Secure domain (bus
@@ -120,9 +120,5 @@ static int nrf53_cpunet_init(void)
 
 	nrf53_cpunet_enable(true);
 #endif /* !CONFIG_TRUSTED_EXECUTION_SECURE */
-
-	return 0;
 }
-
-SYS_INIT(nrf53_cpunet_init, POST_KERNEL, CONFIG_KERNEL_INIT_PRIORITY_DEVICE);
 #endif /* CONFIG_SOC_NRF53_CPUNET_ENABLE */
diff --git a/soc/nordic/nrf53/nrf53_cpunet_mgmt.h b/soc/nordic/nrf53/nrf53_cpunet_mgmt.h
index 0273061c20c..5427af0be7f 100644
--- a/soc/nordic/nrf53/nrf53_cpunet_mgmt.h
+++ b/soc/nordic/nrf53/nrf53_cpunet_mgmt.h
@@ -28,4 +28,9 @@
  */
 void nrf53_cpunet_enable(bool on);
 
+/**
+ * @brief Configure the security setting of the network CPU and then enable it.
+ */
+void nrf53_cpunet_init(void);
+
 #endif /* NRF53_CPUNET_MGMT_H__ */
diff --git a/soc/nordic/nrf53/soc.c b/soc/nordic/nrf53/soc.c
index e15622b458c..7fbe69b434b 100644
--- a/soc/nordic/nrf53/soc.c
+++ b/soc/nordic/nrf53/soc.c
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
 
 #include <cmsis_core.h>
 
+#include "nrf53_cpunet_mgmt.h"
+
 #define PIN_XL1 0
 #define PIN_XL2 1
 
@@ -562,6 +564,9 @@ void soc_late_init_hook(void)
 	(void)err;
 #endif
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SOC_NRF53_CPUNET_ENABLE
+	nrf53_cpunet_init();
+#endif
 }
 
 void arch_busy_wait(uint32_t time_us)