diff --git a/soc/nordic/nrf54h/Kconfig.defconfig.nrf54h20_cpuapp b/soc/nordic/nrf54h/Kconfig.defconfig.nrf54h20_cpuapp
index 2a04f58f672..43aed154ecb 100644
--- a/soc/nordic/nrf54h/Kconfig.defconfig.nrf54h20_cpuapp
+++ b/soc/nordic/nrf54h/Kconfig.defconfig.nrf54h20_cpuapp
@@ -11,4 +11,7 @@ config NUM_IRQS
 config NRF_REGTOOL_GENERATE_UICR
 	default y
 
+config SHELL_BACKEND_SERIAL
+	default n if NRF_ETR_SHELL
+
 endif # SOC_NRF54H20_CPUAPP || SOC_NRF54H20_ENGB_CPUAPP