diff --git a/arch/arc/core/timestamp.c b/arch/arc/core/timestamp.c
index 8d5f2a855b8..74d588baf40 100644
--- a/arch/arc/core/timestamp.c
+++ b/arch/arc/core/timestamp.c
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 #include <kernel_structs.h>
 
 extern volatile u64_t _sys_clock_tick_count;
-extern int sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+extern int sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 
 /*
  * @brief Read 64-bit timestamp value
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ u64_t _tsc_read(void)
 	t = (u64_t)_sys_clock_tick_count;
 	count = _arc_v2_aux_reg_read(_ARC_V2_TMR0_COUNT);
 	irq_unlock(key);
-	t *= (u64_t)sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+	t *= (u64_t)sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 	t += (u64_t)count;
 	return t;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/timer/altera_avalon_timer_hal.c b/drivers/timer/altera_avalon_timer_hal.c
index 822c71167a6..932a1a5ced1 100644
--- a/drivers/timer/altera_avalon_timer_hal.c
+++ b/drivers/timer/altera_avalon_timer_hal.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ static void timer_irq_handler(void *unused)
 	read_timer_start_of_tick_handler();
 #endif
 
-	accumulated_cycle_count += sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+	accumulated_cycle_count += sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 
 	/* Clear the interrupt */
 	alt_handle_irq((void *)TIMER_0_BASE, TIMER_0_IRQ);
@@ -42,15 +42,15 @@ int _sys_clock_driver_init(struct device *device)
 	ARG_UNUSED(device);
 
 	IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_TIMER_PERIODL(TIMER_0_BASE,
-			sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick & 0xFFFF);
+			sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick() & 0xFFFF);
 	IOWR_ALTERA_AVALON_TIMER_PERIODH(TIMER_0_BASE,
-			(sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick >> 16) & 0xFFFF);
+			(sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick() >> 16) & 0xFFFF);
 
 	IRQ_CONNECT(TIMER_0_IRQ, 0, timer_irq_handler, NULL, 0);
 	irq_enable(TIMER_0_IRQ);
 
 	alt_avalon_timer_sc_init((void *)TIMER_0_BASE, 0,
-			TIMER_0_IRQ, sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick);
+			TIMER_0_IRQ, sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick());
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/timer/arcv2_timer0.c b/drivers/timer/arcv2_timer0.c
index e487493f763..d58edd070ad 100644
--- a/drivers/timer/arcv2_timer0.c
+++ b/drivers/timer/arcv2_timer0.c
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ int _sys_clock_driver_init(struct device *device)
 	timer0_control_register_set(0);
 	timer0_count_register_set(0);
 
-	cycles_per_tick = sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+	cycles_per_tick = sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 
 	IRQ_CONNECT(IRQ_TIMER0, CONFIG_ARCV2_TIMER_IRQ_PRIORITY,
 		    _timer_int_handler, NULL, 0);
diff --git a/drivers/timer/cortex_m_systick.c b/drivers/timer/cortex_m_systick.c
index 7f709500e99..f68a6a3bc30 100644
--- a/drivers/timer/cortex_m_systick.c
+++ b/drivers/timer/cortex_m_systick.c
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ void _timer_int_handler(void *unused)
 	 * No tickless idle:
 	 * Update the total tick count and announce this tick to the kernel.
 	 */
-	clock_accumulated_count += sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+	clock_accumulated_count += sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 
 	_sys_clock_tick_announce();
 #endif /* CONFIG_TICKLESS_IDLE */
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ void _timer_int_handler(void *unused)
 #else /* !CONFIG_SYS_POWER_MANAGEMENT */
 
 	/* accumulate total counter value */
-	clock_accumulated_count += sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+	clock_accumulated_count += sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 
 	/*
 	 * one more tick has occurred -- don't need to do anything special since
@@ -709,9 +709,9 @@ int _sys_clock_driver_init(struct device *device)
 	 */
 
 	/* systick supports 24-bit H/W counter */
-	__ASSERT(sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick <= (1 << 24),
-		 "sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick too large");
-	sysTickReloadSet(sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick - 1);
+	__ASSERT(sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick() <= (1 << 24),
+		 "sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick() too large");
+	sysTickReloadSet(sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick() - 1);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_TICKLESS_IDLE
 
diff --git a/drivers/timer/hpet.c b/drivers/timer/hpet.c
index 233fb26951a..b8f1f897dc2 100644
--- a/drivers/timer/hpet.c
+++ b/drivers/timer/hpet.c
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ int _sys_clock_driver_init(struct device *device)
 	/*
 	 * This driver shall read the COUNTER_CLK_PERIOD value from the general
 	 * capabilities register rather than rely on a board.h provide macro
-	 * (or the global variable 'sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick')
+	 * (or the global variable 'sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick()')
 	 * to determine the frequency of clock applied to the HPET device.
 	 */
 
@@ -611,10 +611,9 @@ int _sys_clock_driver_init(struct device *device)
 	DBG("HPET: timer0: available interrupts mask 0x%x\n",
 	       (u32_t)(*_HPET_TIMER0_CONFIG_CAPS >> 32));
 
-	/* Initialize sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick/sec */
+	/* Initialize sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_sec */
 
-	sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick = counter_load_value;
-	z_clock_hw_cycles_per_sec = sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick *
+	z_clock_hw_cycles_per_sec = counter_load_value *
 		CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_TICKS_PER_SEC;
 
 
diff --git a/drivers/timer/loapic_timer.c b/drivers/timer/loapic_timer.c
index fb829dc80ad..39d6837f8b6 100644
--- a/drivers/timer/loapic_timer.c
+++ b/drivers/timer/loapic_timer.c
@@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ int _sys_clock_driver_init(struct device *device)
 	/* determine the timer counter value (in timer clock cycles/system tick)
 	 */
 
-	cycles_per_tick = sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+	cycles_per_tick = sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 
 	tickless_idle_init();
 
diff --git a/drivers/timer/nrf_rtc_timer.c b/drivers/timer/nrf_rtc_timer.c
index 8ce9dbe5047..81f6c51a4f9 100644
--- a/drivers/timer/nrf_rtc_timer.c
+++ b/drivers/timer/nrf_rtc_timer.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 /*
  * rtc_past holds the value of RTC_COUNTER at the time the last sys tick was
  * announced, in RTC ticks. It is therefore always a multiple of
- * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick.
+ * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick().
  */
 static u32_t rtc_past;
 
@@ -114,12 +114,12 @@ static void rtc_announce_set_next(void)
 	/* If no sys ticks have elapsed, there is no point in incrementing the
 	 * counters or announcing it.
 	 */
-	if (rtc_elapsed >= sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick) {
+	if (rtc_elapsed >= sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick()) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_TICKLESS_IDLE
 		/* Calculate how many sys ticks elapsed since the last sys tick
 		 * and notify the kernel if necessary.
 		 */
-		sys_elapsed = rtc_elapsed / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+		sys_elapsed = rtc_elapsed / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 
 		if (sys_elapsed > expected_sys_ticks) {
 			/* Never announce more sys ticks than the kernel asked
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ static void rtc_announce_set_next(void)
 		 * has passed.
 		 */
 		rtc_past = (rtc_past +
-				(sys_elapsed * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick)
+				(sys_elapsed * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick())
 			   ) & RTC_MASK;
 
 		_sys_idle_elapsed_ticks = sys_elapsed;
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ static void rtc_announce_set_next(void)
 	}
 
 	/* Set the RTC to the next sys tick */
-	rtc_compare_set(rtc_past + sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick);
+	rtc_compare_set(rtc_past + sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick());
 }
 #endif
 
@@ -196,8 +196,8 @@ void _timer_idle_enter(s32_t sys_ticks)
 #else
 	/* Restrict ticks to max supported by RTC without risking overflow*/
 	if ((sys_ticks < 0) ||
-		(sys_ticks > (RTC_HALF / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick))) {
-		sys_ticks = RTC_HALF / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+		(sys_ticks > (RTC_HALF / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick()))) {
+		sys_ticks = RTC_HALF / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 	}
 
 	expected_sys_ticks = sys_ticks;
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ void _timer_idle_enter(s32_t sys_ticks)
 	/* If ticks is 0, the RTC interrupt handler will be set pending
 	 * immediately, meaning that we will not go to sleep.
 	 */
-	rtc_compare_set(rtc_past + (sys_ticks * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick));
+	rtc_compare_set(rtc_past + (sys_ticks * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick()));
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -222,11 +222,11 @@ static inline void program_max_cycles(void)
 	_sys_clock_tick_count = _get_elapsed_clock_time();
 	/* Update rtc_past to track rtc timer count*/
 	rtc_past = (_sys_clock_tick_count *
-			sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick) & RTC_MASK;
+			sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick()) & RTC_MASK;
 
 	/* Programe RTC compare register to generate interrupt*/
 	rtc_compare_set(rtc_past +
-			(max_cycles * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick));
+			(max_cycles * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick()));
 
 }
 
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ u32_t _get_elapsed_program_time(void)
 	rtc_elapsed = (RTC_COUNTER - rtc_past_copy) & RTC_MASK;
 
 	/* Convert number of Machine cycles to SYS_TICKS */
-	return (rtc_elapsed / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick);
+	return (rtc_elapsed / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick());
 }
 
 
@@ -307,14 +307,14 @@ void _set_time(u32_t time)
 	expected_sys_ticks = time;
 	_sys_clock_tick_count = _get_elapsed_clock_time();
 	/* Update rtc_past to track rtc timer count*/
-	rtc_past = (_sys_clock_tick_count * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick) & RTC_MASK;
+	rtc_past = (_sys_clock_tick_count * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick()) & RTC_MASK;
 
 	expected_sys_ticks = expected_sys_ticks > _get_max_clock_time() ?
 				_get_max_clock_time() : expected_sys_ticks;
 
 	/* Programe RTC compare register to generate interrupt*/
 	rtc_compare_set(rtc_past +
-			(expected_sys_ticks * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick));
+			(expected_sys_ticks * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick()));
 
 }
 
@@ -336,8 +336,8 @@ s32_t _get_max_clock_time(void)
 	rtc_away = rtc_away > RTC_HALF ? RTC_HALF : rtc_away;
 
 	/* Convert RTC Ticks to SYS TICKS*/
-	if (rtc_away >= sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick) {
-		sys_away = rtc_away / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+	if (rtc_away >= sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick()) {
+		sys_away = rtc_away / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 	}
 
 	return sys_away;
@@ -378,9 +378,9 @@ u64_t _get_elapsed_clock_time(void)
 	compiler_barrier();
 
 	rtc_elapsed = (RTC_COUNTER - rtc_past_copy) & RTC_MASK;
-	if (rtc_elapsed >= sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick) {
+	if (rtc_elapsed >= sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick()) {
 		/* Update total number of SYS_TICKS passed */
-		elapsed += (rtc_elapsed / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick);
+		elapsed += (rtc_elapsed / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick());
 	}
 
 	return elapsed;
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ int _sys_clock_driver_init(struct device *device)
 
 	/* TODO: replace with counter driver to access RTC */
 	SYS_CLOCK_RTC->PRESCALER = 0;
-	nrf_rtc_cc_set(SYS_CLOCK_RTC, RTC_CC_IDX, sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick);
+	nrf_rtc_cc_set(SYS_CLOCK_RTC, RTC_CC_IDX, sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick());
 	nrf_rtc_event_enable(SYS_CLOCK_RTC, RTC_EVTENSET_COMPARE0_Msk);
 	nrf_rtc_int_enable(SYS_CLOCK_RTC, RTC_INTENSET_COMPARE0_Msk);
 
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ u32_t _timer_cycle_get_32(void)
 	u32_t elapsed_cycles;
 
 	/* Number of timer cycles announced as ticks so far. */
-	ticked_cycles = _sys_clock_tick_count * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+	ticked_cycles = _sys_clock_tick_count * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 
 	/* Make sure that compiler will not reverse access to RTC and
 	 * _sys_clock_tick_count.
diff --git a/drivers/timer/pulpino_timer.c b/drivers/timer/pulpino_timer.c
index d9dd6d6bbd8..691e7b2b9bc 100644
--- a/drivers/timer/pulpino_timer.c
+++ b/drivers/timer/pulpino_timer.c
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ static void pulpino_timer_irq_handler(void *unused)
 	/* Reset counter */
 	timer->val = 0;
 
-	accumulated_cycle_count += sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+	accumulated_cycle_count += sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 
 	_sys_clock_tick_announce();
 }
@@ -50,10 +50,10 @@ int _sys_clock_driver_init(struct device *device)
 	/*
 	 * Initialize timer.
 	 * Reset counter and set timer to generate interrupt
-	 * every sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick
+	 * every sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick()
 	 */
 	timer->val = 0;
-	timer->cmp = sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+	timer->cmp = sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 	timer->ctrl = TIMER_CTRL_EN;
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/drivers/timer/riscv_machine_timer.c b/drivers/timer/riscv_machine_timer.c
index 6b9f5949f61..507deb4375c 100644
--- a/drivers/timer/riscv_machine_timer.c
+++ b/drivers/timer/riscv_machine_timer.c
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ static ALWAYS_INLINE void riscv_machine_rearm_timer(void)
 
 	/*
 	 * Rearm timer to generate an interrupt after
-	 * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick
+	 * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick()
 	 */
-	rtc += sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+	rtc += sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 	mtimecmp->val_low = (u32_t)(rtc & 0xffffffff);
 	mtimecmp->val_high = (u32_t)((rtc >> 32) & 0xffffffff);
 
diff --git a/drivers/timer/xtensa_sys_timer.c b/drivers/timer/xtensa_sys_timer.c
index 1ac83daf9ce..d22d6689eaa 100644
--- a/drivers/timer/xtensa_sys_timer.c
+++ b/drivers/timer/xtensa_sys_timer.c
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ u64_t _get_elapsed_clock_time(void)
 
 static ALWAYS_INLINE void tickless_idle_init(void)
 {
-	cycles_per_tick = sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+	cycles_per_tick = sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 	/* calculate the max number of ticks with this 32-bit H/W counter */
 	max_system_ticks = MAX_TIMER_CYCLES / cycles_per_tick;
 	max_load_value = max_system_ticks * cycles_per_tick;
diff --git a/include/sys_clock.h b/include/sys_clock.h
index 12b2f41d985..3a6bdaed559 100644
--- a/include/sys_clock.h
+++ b/include/sys_clock.h
@@ -42,6 +42,20 @@ static inline int sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_sec(void)
 #endif
 }
 
+/* Note that some systems with comparatively slow cycle counters
+ * experience precision loss when doing math like this.  In the
+ * general case it is not correct that "cycles" are much faster than
+ * "ticks".
+ */
+static inline int sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick(void)
+{
+#ifdef CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS
+	return sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_sec() / CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_TICKS_PER_SEC;
+#else
+	return 1; /* Just to avoid a division by zero */
+#endif
+}
+
 #if defined(CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS) && \
 	(CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_HW_CYCLES_PER_SEC == 0)
 #error "SYS_CLOCK_HW_CYCLES_PER_SEC must be non-zero!"
@@ -138,22 +152,6 @@ static inline s64_t __ticks_to_ms(s64_t ticks)
 #define _TICK_ALIGN 1
 #endif
 
-/*
- * sys_clock_us_per_tick global variable represents a number
- * of microseconds in one OS timer tick
- *
- * Note: This variable is deprecated and will be removed soon!
- */
-__deprecated extern int sys_clock_us_per_tick;
-
-/*
- * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick global variable represents a number
- * of platform clock ticks in one OS timer tick.
- * sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick often represents a value of divider
- * of the board clock frequency
- */
-extern int sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
-
 /* SYS_CLOCK_HW_CYCLES_TO_NS64 converts CPU clock cycles to nanoseconds */
 #define SYS_CLOCK_HW_CYCLES_TO_NS64(X) \
 	(((u64_t)(X) * NSEC_PER_SEC) / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_sec())
diff --git a/kernel/sys_clock.c b/kernel/sys_clock.c
index f89780dae71..6563458590f 100644
--- a/kernel/sys_clock.c
+++ b/kernel/sys_clock.c
@@ -21,14 +21,10 @@
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_EXISTS
-int sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick =
-	CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_HW_CYCLES_PER_SEC / CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_TICKS_PER_SEC;
 #if defined(CONFIG_TIMER_READS_ITS_FREQUENCY_AT_RUNTIME)
 int z_clock_hw_cycles_per_sec = CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_HW_CYCLES_PER_SEC;
 #endif
 #else
-/* don't initialize to avoid division-by-zero error */
-int sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
 #if defined(CONFIG_TIMER_READS_ITS_FREQUENCY_AT_RUNTIME)
 int z_clock_hw_cycles_per_sec;
 #endif
diff --git a/tests/kernel/common/src/clock.c b/tests/kernel/common/src/clock.c
index 3a94bd47577..cf189a6479f 100644
--- a/tests/kernel/common/src/clock.c
+++ b/tests/kernel/common/src/clock.c
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ void test_clock_cycle(void)
 	c32 = k_cycle_get_32();
 	/*break if cycle counter wrap around*/
 	while (k_cycle_get_32() > c32 &&
-	       k_cycle_get_32() < (c32 + sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick))
+	       k_cycle_get_32() < (c32 + sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick()))
 #if defined(CONFIG_ARCH_POSIX)
 		posix_halt_cpu();
 #else
diff --git a/tests/kernel/early_sleep/src/main.c b/tests/kernel/early_sleep/src/main.c
index 590547d705a..ba4eeeb9a36 100644
--- a/tests/kernel/early_sleep/src/main.c
+++ b/tests/kernel/early_sleep/src/main.c
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ static int ticks_to_sleep(int ticks)
 	k_sleep(__ticks_to_ms(ticks));
 	stop_time = k_cycle_get_32();
 
-	return (stop_time - start_time) / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick;
+	return (stop_time - start_time) / sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick();
 }
 
 
diff --git a/tests/kernel/timer/timer_monotonic/src/main.c b/tests/kernel/timer/timer_monotonic/src/main.c
index 4fe138bde64..895fc7f805f 100644
--- a/tests/kernel/timer/timer_monotonic/src/main.c
+++ b/tests/kernel/timer/timer_monotonic/src/main.c
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ void test_timer(void)
 
 	errors = 0;
 
-	TC_PRINT("sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick = %d\n",
-		 sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick);
+	TC_PRINT("sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick() = %d\n",
+		 sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_tick());
 	TC_PRINT("sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_sec() = %d\n",
 		 sys_clock_hw_cycles_per_sec());