diff --git a/soc/xtensa/sample_controller/Kconfig.defconfig b/soc/xtensa/sample_controller/Kconfig.defconfig
index bf208aa79ad..cc2040a5e93 100644
--- a/soc/xtensa/sample_controller/Kconfig.defconfig
+++ b/soc/xtensa/sample_controller/Kconfig.defconfig
@@ -13,7 +13,4 @@ config SOC_TOOLCHAIN_NAME
 	string
 	default "sample_controller"
 
-config LOG_BACKEND_XTENSA_SIM
-	default LOG
-
 endif
diff --git a/subsys/logging/Kconfig.backends b/subsys/logging/Kconfig.backends
index e60e4f0e042..2afd52c3652 100644
--- a/subsys/logging/Kconfig.backends
+++ b/subsys/logging/Kconfig.backends
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ endif # LOG_BACKEND_NATIVE_POSIX
 config LOG_BACKEND_XTENSA_SIM
 	bool "Xtensa simulator backend"
 	depends on SOC_XTENSA_SAMPLE_CONTROLLER || SOC_FAMILY_INTEL_ADSP
+	default y if SOC_XTENSA_SAMPLE_CONTROLLER
 	help
 	  Enable backend in xtensa simulator