diff --git a/arch/arm/core/aarch64/reset.c b/arch/arm/core/aarch64/reset.c
index c8f354b308f..a6013d425b7 100644
--- a/arch/arm/core/aarch64/reset.c
+++ b/arch/arm/core/aarch64/reset.c
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ void __weak z_arm64_el1_plat_init(void)
 
 void z_arm64_el_highest_init(void)
 {
-	write_cntfrq_el0(CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_HW_CYCLES_PER_SEC);
+	if (is_el_highest_implemented()) {
+		write_cntfrq_el0(CONFIG_SYS_CLOCK_HW_CYCLES_PER_SEC);
+	}
 
 	z_arm64_el_highest_plat_init();
 
diff --git a/include/arch/arm/aarch64/lib_helpers.h b/include/arch/arm/aarch64/lib_helpers.h
index 29064dd1258..b314b5dda6a 100644
--- a/include/arch/arm/aarch64/lib_helpers.h
+++ b/include/arch/arm/aarch64/lib_helpers.h
@@ -153,6 +153,22 @@ static inline bool is_el_implemented(unsigned int el)
 	return (((read_id_aa64pfr0_el1() >> shift) & ID_AA64PFR0_ELX_MASK) != 0U);
 }
 
+static inline bool is_el_highest_implemented(void)
+{
+	uint32_t el_highest;
+	uint32_t curr_el;
+
+	el_highest = read_id_aa64pfr0_el1() & 0xFFFF;
+	el_highest = (31U - __builtin_clz(el_highest)) / 4;
+
+	curr_el = GET_EL(read_currentel());
+
+	if (curr_el < el_highest)
+		return false;
+
+	return true;
+}
+
 static inline bool is_el2_sec_supported(void)
 {
 	return (((read_id_aa64pfr0_el1() >> ID_AA64PFR0_SEL2_SHIFT) &