diff --git a/arch/x86_64/src/common/x86_64_initialize.c b/arch/x86_64/src/common/x86_64_initialize.c
index b9f32c2d25..db124d327e 100644
--- a/arch/x86_64/src/common/x86_64_initialize.c
+++ b/arch/x86_64/src/common/x86_64_initialize.c
@@ -117,7 +117,9 @@ void up_initialize(void)
 
   /* Initialize the network */
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT
   x86_64_netinitialize();
+#endif
 
   /* Initialize USB -- device and/or host */
 
diff --git a/arch/x86_64/src/common/x86_64_internal.h b/arch/x86_64/src/common/x86_64_internal.h
index f98d9605bf..072e7210c7 100644
--- a/arch/x86_64/src/common/x86_64_internal.h
+++ b/arch/x86_64/src/common/x86_64_internal.h
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ void x86_64_timer_initialize(void);
 
 /* Defined in board/x86_64_network.c */
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_NET
+#if defined(CONFIG_NET) && !defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 void x86_64_netinitialize(void);
 #else
 #  define x86_64_netinitialize()
diff --git a/boards/x86_64/intel64/qemu-intel64/src/qemu_net.c b/boards/x86_64/intel64/qemu-intel64/src/qemu_net.c
index 7514c9dfd7..d538dae96f 100644
--- a/boards/x86_64/intel64/qemu-intel64/src/qemu_net.c
+++ b/boards/x86_64/intel64/qemu-intel64/src/qemu_net.c
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_NET
+#if defined(CONFIG_NET) && !defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 void x86_64_netinitialize(void)
 {
 }