diff --git a/arch/risc-v/src/qemu-rv/qemu_rv_start.c b/arch/risc-v/src/qemu-rv/qemu_rv_start.c
index 9381be93bb..19188b9d0c 100644
--- a/arch/risc-v/src/qemu-rv/qemu_rv_start.c
+++ b/arch/risc-v/src/qemu-rv/qemu_rv_start.c
@@ -184,10 +184,14 @@ cpux:
 
 void riscv_earlyserialinit(void)
 {
+#ifdef CONFIG_16550_UART
   u16550_earlyserialinit();
+#endif
 }
 
 void riscv_serialinit(void)
 {
+#ifdef CONFIG_16550_UART
   u16550_serialinit();
+#endif
 }