diff --git a/subsys/logging/backends/Kconfig.swo b/subsys/logging/backends/Kconfig.swo
index 8dcbf3f0285..adfc89b274e 100644
--- a/subsys/logging/backends/Kconfig.swo
+++ b/subsys/logging/backends/Kconfig.swo
@@ -9,6 +9,16 @@ config LOG_BACKEND_SWO
 	  When enabled, backend will use SWO for logging.
 
 if LOG_BACKEND_SWO
+
+config LOG_BACKEND_SWO_REF_FREQ_HZ
+	int "SWO reference clock frequency"
+	default $(dt_node_int_prop_int,$(dt_nodelabel_path,itm),swo-ref-frequency) if $(dt_nodelabel_enabled,itm)
+	default $(dt_node_int_prop_int,/cpus/cpu@0,clock-frequency) if $(dt_node_has_prop,/cpus/cpu@0,clock-frequency)
+	default 0
+	help
+	  Set SWO reference frequency. In most cases it is equal to CPU
+	  frequency.
+
 config LOG_BACKEND_SWO_FREQ_HZ
 	int "Set SWO output frequency"
 	default 0
diff --git a/subsys/logging/backends/log_backend_swo.c b/subsys/logging/backends/log_backend_swo.c
index 7c4c89d8b99..2ef29a3e0c6 100644
--- a/subsys/logging/backends/log_backend_swo.c
+++ b/subsys/logging/backends/log_backend_swo.c
@@ -42,17 +42,12 @@ PINCTRL_DT_DEFINE(DT_NODELABEL(itm));
 #define SWO_FREQ_DIV  1
 #else
 
-/* Set reference frequency which can be custom or cpu frequency. */
-#if DT_NODE_HAS_PROP(DT_NODELABEL(itm), swo_ref_frequency)
-#define SWO_REF_FREQ DT_PROP(DT_NODELABEL(itm), swo_ref_frequency)
-#elif DT_NODE_HAS_PROP(DT_PATH(cpus, cpu_0), clock_frequency)
-#define SWO_REF_FREQ DT_PROP(DT_PATH(cpus, cpu_0), clock_frequency)
-#else
-#error "Missing DT 'clock-frequency' property on cpu@0 node"
+#if CONFIG_LOG_BACKEND_SWO_REF_FREQ_HZ == 0
+#error "SWO reference frequency is not configured"
 #endif
 
 #define SWO_FREQ_DIV \
-	((SWO_REF_FREQ + (CONFIG_LOG_BACKEND_SWO_FREQ_HZ / 2)) / \
+	((CONFIG_LOG_BACKEND_SWO_REF_FREQ_HZ + (CONFIG_LOG_BACKEND_SWO_FREQ_HZ / 2)) / \
 		CONFIG_LOG_BACKEND_SWO_FREQ_HZ)
 
 #if SWO_FREQ_DIV > 0xFFFF