diff --git a/kernel/Kconfig b/kernel/Kconfig
index 222d6b9c737..2a4bc891f22 100644
--- a/kernel/Kconfig
+++ b/kernel/Kconfig
@@ -27,11 +27,11 @@ config SYS_CLOCK_HW_CYCLES_PER_SEC
 	Frequency of the hardware timer used for the system clock
 	(in Hz).
 
-config  TICKLESS_KERNEL
+config  SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS
 	bool
 	# omit prompt to signify a "hidden" option
-	default y if (SYS_CLOCK_TICKS_PER_SEC = 0)
-	default n
+	default n if (SYS_CLOCK_TICKS_PER_SEC = 0)
+	default y
 	help
 	This option specifies that the kernel lacks timer support.
 
diff --git a/kernel/microkernel/Kconfig b/kernel/microkernel/Kconfig
index 83d9bacbbca..86d539646f6 100644
--- a/kernel/microkernel/Kconfig
+++ b/kernel/microkernel/Kconfig
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ config NUM_COMMAND_PACKETS
 
 config NUM_TIMER_PACKETS
 	int
-	prompt "Number of timer packets" if !TICKLESS_KERNEL
-	default 0 if TICKLESS_KERNEL
+	prompt "Number of timer packets" if SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS
+	default 0 if !SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS
 	default 10
 	depends on MICROKERNEL
 	help
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ config TIMESLICING
 	bool
 	prompt "Task time slicing"
 	default y
-	depends on MICROKERNEL && !TICKLESS_KERNEL
+	depends on MICROKERNEL && SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS
 	help
 	This option enables time slicing between tasks of equal priority.