diff --git a/drivers/regulator/regulator_common.c b/drivers/regulator/regulator_common.c
index 745d270e880..55cef0dd78f 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/regulator_common.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/regulator_common.c
@@ -15,14 +15,19 @@ void regulator_common_data_init(const struct device *dev)
 
 int regulator_common_init_enable(const struct device *dev)
 {
+	const struct regulator_driver_api *api = dev->api;
 	const struct regulator_common_config *config = dev->config;
 	struct regulator_common_data *data = dev->data;
+	int ret;
+
+	if (config->initial_mode != REGULATOR_INITIAL_MODE_UNKNOWN) {
+		ret = regulator_set_mode(dev, config->initial_mode);
+		if (ret < 0) {
+			return ret;
+		}
+	}
 
 	if ((config->flags & REGULATOR_INIT_ENABLED) != 0U) {
-		const struct regulator_driver_api *api = dev->api;
-
-		int ret;
-
 		ret = api->enable(dev);
 		if (ret < 0) {
 			return ret;
diff --git a/tests/drivers/regulator/api/app.overlay b/tests/drivers/regulator/api/app.overlay
index 4a928cdcb54..ea25ef18da6 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/regulator/api/app.overlay
+++ b/tests/drivers/regulator/api/app.overlay
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 			regulator-min-microamp = <100>;
 			regulator-max-microamp = <200>;
 			regulator-allowed-modes = <1 10>;
+			regulator-initial-mode = <1>;
 		};
 	};
 };
diff --git a/tests/drivers/regulator/api/src/main.c b/tests/drivers/regulator/api/src/main.c
index 20bbbe894c4..243e6e3e353 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/regulator/api/src/main.c
+++ b/tests/drivers/regulator/api/src/main.c
@@ -626,6 +626,9 @@ void *setup(void)
 	zassert_true(regulator_is_enabled(reg1));
 	zassert_true(regulator_is_enabled(reg2));
 
+	/* REG3 mode set at init time (initial-mode) */
+	zassert_equal(regulator_fake_set_mode_fake.call_count, 1U);
+
 	return NULL;
 }