diff --git a/arch/sim/src/sim/up_rptun.c b/arch/sim/src/sim/up_rptun.c
index 5bfd47a6da..66a20939c4 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/sim/up_rptun.c
+++ b/arch/sim/src/sim/up_rptun.c
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@
 #include <nuttx/fs/hostfs_rpmsg.h>
 #include <nuttx/rptun/rptun.h>
 #include <nuttx/serial/uart_rpmsg.h>
-#include <nuttx/syslog/syslog_rpmsg.h>
 
 #include "up_internal.h"
 
@@ -245,10 +244,6 @@ int up_rptun_init(void)
       return ret;
     }
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SYSLOG_RPMSG
-  syslog_rpmsg_init();
-#endif
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_SYSLOG_RPMSG_SERVER
   syslog_rpmsg_server_init();
 #endif
diff --git a/drivers/syslog/syslog_initialize.c b/drivers/syslog/syslog_initialize.c
index 45baf8dac9..146602f440 100644
--- a/drivers/syslog/syslog_initialize.c
+++ b/drivers/syslog/syslog_initialize.c
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 
 #include <nuttx/syslog/ramlog.h>
 #include <nuttx/syslog/syslog.h>
+#include <nuttx/syslog/syslog_rpmsg.h>
 
 #include "syslog.h"
 
@@ -101,6 +102,10 @@ int syslog_initialize(void)
   syslog_register();
 #endif
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SYSLOG_CHARDEV
+  syslog_rpmsg_init();
+#endif
+
   return ret;
 }