diff --git a/soc/nordic/nrf54h/Kconfig b/soc/nordic/nrf54h/Kconfig
index 0373e00d07b..55dbbc7116f 100644
--- a/soc/nordic/nrf54h/Kconfig
+++ b/soc/nordic/nrf54h/Kconfig
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ config SOC_SERIES_NRF54HX
 	select HAS_NRFS
 	select HAS_NRFX
 	select HAS_NORDIC_DRIVERS
+	select SOC_EARLY_INIT_HOOK if ARM
 	select NRF_PLATFORM_HALTIUM
 
 config SOC_NRF54H20_CPUAPP_COMMON
diff --git a/soc/nordic/nrf54h/soc.c b/soc/nordic/nrf54h/soc.c
index 6dc8100e00c..ad2da0b30bf 100644
--- a/soc/nordic/nrf54h/soc.c
+++ b/soc/nordic/nrf54h/soc.c
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ bool z_arm_on_enter_cpu_idle(void)
 }
 #endif
 
-static int nordicsemi_nrf54h_init(void)
+void soc_early_init_hook(void)
 {
 	int err;
 
@@ -138,9 +138,7 @@ static int nordicsemi_nrf54h_init(void)
 	trim_hsfll();
 
 	err = dmm_init();
-	if (err < 0) {
-		return err;
-	}
+	__ASSERT_NO_MSG(err == 0);
 
 #if DT_NODE_HAS_STATUS_OKAY(DT_NODELABEL(ccm030))
 	/* DMASEC is set to non-secure by default, which prevents CCM from
@@ -156,13 +154,9 @@ static int nordicsemi_nrf54h_init(void)
 	    DT_PROP_OR(DT_NODELABEL(nfct), nfct_pins_as_gpios, 0)) {
 		nrf_nfct_pad_config_enable_set(NRF_NFCT, false);
 	}
-
-	return 0;
 }
 
 void arch_busy_wait(uint32_t time_us)
 {
 	nrfx_coredep_delay_us(time_us);
 }
-
-SYS_INIT(nordicsemi_nrf54h_init, PRE_KERNEL_1, CONFIG_KERNEL_INIT_PRIORITY_DEFAULT);
diff --git a/tests/boards/nrf/dmm/src/main.c b/tests/boards/nrf/dmm/src/main.c
index 078edcdd39f..214a9069752 100644
--- a/tests/boards/nrf/dmm/src/main.c
+++ b/tests/boards/nrf/dmm/src/main.c
@@ -228,4 +228,5 @@ int dmm_test_prepare(void)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-SYS_INIT(dmm_test_prepare, PRE_KERNEL_1, 0);
+/* Needs to execute before DMM initialization. */
+SYS_INIT(dmm_test_prepare, EARLY, 0);