diff --git a/boards/risc-v/esp32c6/esp32c6-devkitc/src/esp32c6_bringup.c b/boards/risc-v/esp32c6/esp32c6-devkitc/src/esp32c6_bringup.c
index 6340b3cf730..d0f08c72046 100644
--- a/boards/risc-v/esp32c6/esp32c6-devkitc/src/esp32c6_bringup.c
+++ b/boards/risc-v/esp32c6/esp32c6-devkitc/src/esp32c6_bringup.c
@@ -543,11 +543,17 @@ int esp_bringup(void)
    * peripherals to use supported peripherals properly on ULP core
    */
 
-  esp_ulp_init();
-
+  ret = esp_ulp_init();
+  if (ret < 0)
+    {
+      syslog(LOG_ERR, "ERROR: esp_ulp_init failed: %d\n", ret);
+    }
+  else
+    {
 #  ifdef CONFIG_ESPRESSIF_ULP_USE_TEST_BIN
-  esp_ulp_load_bin((char *)esp_ulp_bin, esp_ulp_bin_len);
+      esp_ulp_load_bin((char *)esp_ulp_bin, esp_ulp_bin_len);
 #  endif
+    }
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_NET_OA_TC6
diff --git a/boards/risc-v/esp32p4/esp32p4-function-ev-board/src/esp32p4_bringup.c b/boards/risc-v/esp32p4/esp32p4-function-ev-board/src/esp32p4_bringup.c
index ca25f2aee8f..318a19bc152 100644
--- a/boards/risc-v/esp32p4/esp32p4-function-ev-board/src/esp32p4_bringup.c
+++ b/boards/risc-v/esp32p4/esp32p4-function-ev-board/src/esp32p4_bringup.c
@@ -459,11 +459,17 @@ int esp_bringup(void)
    * peripherals to use supported peripherals properly on ULP core
    */
 
-  esp_ulp_init();
-
+  ret = esp_ulp_init();
+  if (ret < 0)
+    {
+      syslog(LOG_ERR, "ERROR: esp_ulp_init failed: %d\n", ret);
+    }
+  else
+    {
 #  ifdef CONFIG_ESPRESSIF_ULP_USE_TEST_BIN
-  esp_ulp_load_bin((char *)esp_ulp_bin, esp_ulp_bin_len);
+      esp_ulp_load_bin((char *)esp_ulp_bin, esp_ulp_bin_len);
 #  endif
+    }
 #endif
 
   /* If we got here then perhaps not all initialization was successful, but