diff --git a/boards/risc-v/esp32c3/esp32c3-devkit/configs/ble/defconfig b/boards/risc-v/esp32c3/esp32c3-devkit/configs/ble/defconfig
index 7d05c3ce52..248a705f00 100644
--- a/boards/risc-v/esp32c3/esp32c3-devkit/configs/ble/defconfig
+++ b/boards/risc-v/esp32c3/esp32c3-devkit/configs/ble/defconfig
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ CONFIG_IDLETHREAD_STACKSIZE=3072
 CONFIG_INIT_ENTRYPOINT="nsh_main"
 CONFIG_INTELHEX_BINARY=y
 CONFIG_NAME_MAX=48
+CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT=y
 CONFIG_NET_BLUETOOTH=y
 CONFIG_NET_SOCKOPTS=y
 CONFIG_NET_TCP=y