diff --git a/drivers/timer/Kconfig.nrf_rtc b/drivers/timer/Kconfig.nrf_rtc
index 4b9690ca25a..a9dd99d7325 100644
--- a/drivers/timer/Kconfig.nrf_rtc
+++ b/drivers/timer/Kconfig.nrf_rtc
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ if NRF_RTC_TIMER
 
 config NRF_RTC_TIMER_USER_CHAN_COUNT
 	int "Additional channels that can be used"
+	default 3 if SOC_SERIES_NRF52X
 	default 0
 	help
 	  Use nrf_rtc_timer.h API. Driver is not managing allocation of channels.