diff --git a/arch/arm/src/imxrt/imxrt_enet.c b/arch/arm/src/imxrt/imxrt_enet.c
index 649ac5b0d9c..3e37e965d07 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/imxrt/imxrt_enet.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/imxrt/imxrt_enet.c
@@ -2580,7 +2580,7 @@ int imxrt_netinitialize(int intf)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if CONFIG_IMXRT_ENET_NETHIFS == 1
+#if CONFIG_IMXRT_ENET_NETHIFS == 1 && !defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 void up_netinitialize(void)
 {
   (void)imxrt_netinitialize(0);
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/kinetis/kinetis_enet.c b/arch/arm/src/kinetis/kinetis_enet.c
index 71fe0940a71..e7265c6a95d 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/kinetis/kinetis_enet.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/kinetis/kinetis_enet.c
@@ -2182,7 +2182,7 @@ int kinetis_netinitialize(int intf)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if CONFIG_KINETIS_ENETNETHIFS == 1
+#if CONFIG_KINETIS_ENETNETHIFS == 1 && !defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 void up_netinitialize(void)
 {
   (void)kinetis_netinitialize(0);
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/lpc17xx/lpc17_ethernet.c b/arch/arm/src/lpc17xx/lpc17_ethernet.c
index 49554ac80d2..ee6babbaa3c 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/lpc17xx/lpc17_ethernet.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/lpc17xx/lpc17_ethernet.c
@@ -2983,7 +2983,7 @@ static void lpc17_ethreset(struct lpc17_driver_s *priv)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if CONFIG_LPC17_NINTERFACES > 1
+#if CONFIG_LPC17_NINTERFACES > 1 || defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 int lpc17_ethinitialize(int intf)
 #else
 static inline int lpc17_ethinitialize(int intf)
@@ -3079,7 +3079,7 @@ static inline int lpc17_ethinitialize(int intf)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if CONFIG_LPC17_NINTERFACES == 1
+#if CONFIG_LPC17_NINTERFACES == 1 && !defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 void up_netinitialize(void)
 {
   (void)lpc17_ethinitialize(0);
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/lpc43xx/lpc43_ethernet.c b/arch/arm/src/lpc43xx/lpc43_ethernet.c
index 135b871f3d0..5d72a0be4a5 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/lpc43xx/lpc43_ethernet.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/lpc43xx/lpc43_ethernet.c
@@ -3878,9 +3878,11 @@ static inline int lpc43_ethinitialize(void)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT
 void up_netinitialize(void)
 {
   (void)lpc43_ethinitialize();
 }
+#endif
 
 #endif /* CONFIG_NET && CONFIG_LPC43_ETHERNET */
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/stm32/stm32_eth.c b/arch/arm/src/stm32/stm32_eth.c
index d9f7fde528b..8b8a1565c44 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/stm32/stm32_eth.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/stm32/stm32_eth.c
@@ -4022,10 +4022,9 @@ static int stm32_ethconfig(FAR struct stm32_ethmac_s *priv)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if STM32_NETHERNET == 1
+#if STM32_NETHERNET == 1 || defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 static inline
 #endif
-
 int stm32_ethinitialize(int intf)
 {
   struct stm32_ethmac_s *priv;
@@ -4106,7 +4105,7 @@ int stm32_ethinitialize(int intf)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if STM32_NETHERNET == 1
+#if STM32_NETHERNET == 1 && !defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 void up_netinitialize(void)
 {
   (void)stm32_ethinitialize(0);
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/stm32/stm32_eth.h b/arch/arm/src/stm32/stm32_eth.h
index 10de21f23c4..62bc83cbf95 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/stm32/stm32_eth.h
+++ b/arch/arm/src/stm32/stm32_eth.h
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ extern "C"
  *
  ************************************************************************************/
 
-#if STM32_NETHERNET > 1
+#if STM32_NETHERNET > 1 || defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 int stm32_ethinitialize(int intf);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/stm32f7/stm32_ethernet.c b/arch/arm/src/stm32f7/stm32_ethernet.c
index d22c8122a03..1997ab29d22 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/stm32f7/stm32_ethernet.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/stm32f7/stm32_ethernet.c
@@ -4075,10 +4075,9 @@ static int stm32_ethconfig(struct stm32_ethmac_s *priv)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if STM32F7_NETHERNET == 1
+#if STM32F7_NETHERNET == 1 || defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 static inline
 #endif
-
 int stm32_ethinitialize(int intf)
 {
   struct stm32_ethmac_s *priv;
@@ -4154,7 +4153,7 @@ int stm32_ethinitialize(int intf)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if STM32F7_NETHERNET == 1
+#if STM32F7_NETHERNET == 1 && !defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 void up_netinitialize(void)
 {
   (void)stm32_ethinitialize(0);
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/stm32f7/stm32_ethernet.h b/arch/arm/src/stm32f7/stm32_ethernet.h
index 9edfc92dd52..2916232e26b 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/stm32f7/stm32_ethernet.h
+++ b/arch/arm/src/stm32f7/stm32_ethernet.h
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ extern "C"
  *
  ************************************************************************************/
 
-#if STM32F7_NETHERNET > 1
+#if STM32F7_NETHERNET > 1 || defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 int stm32_ethinitialize(int intf);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/tiva/lm/lm3s_ethernet.c b/arch/arm/src/tiva/lm/lm3s_ethernet.c
index c56de2fed19..8c73389102f 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/tiva/lm/lm3s_ethernet.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/tiva/lm/lm3s_ethernet.c
@@ -1656,7 +1656,7 @@ static int tiva_rmmac(struct net_driver_s *dev, const uint8_t *mac)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if TIVA_NETHCONTROLLERS > 1
+#if TIVA_NETHCONTROLLERS > 1 || defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 int tiva_ethinitialize(int intf)
 #else
 static inline int tiva_ethinitialize(int intf)
@@ -1748,7 +1748,7 @@ static inline int tiva_ethinitialize(int intf)
  *
  ************************************************************************************/
 
-#if TIVA_NETHCONTROLLERS == 1
+#if TIVA_NETHCONTROLLERS == 1 && !defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 void up_netinitialize(void)
 {
   (void)tiva_ethinitialize(0);
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/tiva/tiva_ethernet.h b/arch/arm/src/tiva/tiva_ethernet.h
index 1ebf06c5deb..c147a2ae074 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/tiva/tiva_ethernet.h
+++ b/arch/arm/src/tiva/tiva_ethernet.h
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ extern "C"
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if TIVA_NETHCONTROLLERS > 1
+#if TIVA_NETHCONTROLLERS > 1 || defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 int tiva_ethinitialize(int intf);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/tiva/tm4c/tm4c_ethernet.c b/arch/arm/src/tiva/tm4c/tm4c_ethernet.c
index 44213bb21e7..928f43deeb6 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/tiva/tm4c/tm4c_ethernet.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/tiva/tm4c/tm4c_ethernet.c
@@ -4020,10 +4020,9 @@ static int tive_emac_configure(FAR struct tiva_ethmac_s *priv)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if TIVA_NETHCONTROLLERS == 1
+#if TIVA_NETHCONTROLLERS == 1 || defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 static inline
 #endif
-
 int tiva_ethinitialize(int intf)
 {
   struct tiva_ethmac_s *priv;
@@ -4161,7 +4160,7 @@ int tiva_ethinitialize(int intf)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if TIVA_NETHCONTROLLERS == 1
+#if TIVA_NETHCONTROLLERS == 1 && !defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 void up_netinitialize(void)
 {
   (void)tiva_ethinitialize(0);
diff --git a/arch/mips/src/pic32mx/pic32mx-ethernet.c b/arch/mips/src/pic32mx/pic32mx-ethernet.c
index 693848f6696..1bcb7e6e111 100644
--- a/arch/mips/src/pic32mx/pic32mx-ethernet.c
+++ b/arch/mips/src/pic32mx/pic32mx-ethernet.c
@@ -3320,7 +3320,7 @@ static void pic32mx_ethreset(struct pic32mx_driver_s *priv)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if CONFIG_PIC32MX_NINTERFACES > 1
+#if CONFIG_PIC32MX_NINTERFACES > 1 || defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 int pic32mx_ethinitialize(int intf)
 #else
 static inline int pic32mx_ethinitialize(int intf)
@@ -3394,7 +3394,7 @@ static inline int pic32mx_ethinitialize(int intf)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if CONFIG_PIC32MX_NINTERFACES == 1
+#if CONFIG_PIC32MX_NINTERFACES == 1 && !defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 void up_netinitialize(void)
 {
   (void)pic32mx_ethinitialize(0);
diff --git a/arch/mips/src/pic32mz/pic32mz-ethernet.c b/arch/mips/src/pic32mz/pic32mz-ethernet.c
index 2445de249ba..866bf651e95 100644
--- a/arch/mips/src/pic32mz/pic32mz-ethernet.c
+++ b/arch/mips/src/pic32mz/pic32mz-ethernet.c
@@ -3356,7 +3356,7 @@ static void pic32mz_ethreset(struct pic32mz_driver_s *priv)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if CONFIG_PIC32MZ_NINTERFACES > 1
+#if CONFIG_PIC32MZ_NINTERFACES > 1 || defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 int pic32mz_ethinitialize(int intf)
 #else
 static inline int pic32mz_ethinitialize(int intf)
@@ -3433,7 +3433,7 @@ static inline int pic32mz_ethinitialize(int intf)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#if CONFIG_PIC32MZ_NINTERFACES == 1
+#if CONFIG_PIC32MZ_NINTERFACES == 1 && !defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 void up_netinitialize(void)
 {
   (void)pic32mz_ethinitialize(0);
diff --git a/configs/lc823450-xgevk/src/lc823450_netinit.c b/configs/lc823450-xgevk/src/lc823450_netinit.c
index 7546dbe3324..8ae0a366fd4 100644
--- a/configs/lc823450-xgevk/src/lc823450_netinit.c
+++ b/configs/lc823450-xgevk/src/lc823450_netinit.c
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@
  * Name: up_netinitialize
  ****************************************************************************/
 
+#if defined(CONFIG_NET) && !defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 void up_netinitialize(void)
 {
 }
+#endif
+
diff --git a/configs/mikroe-stm32f4/src/stm32_vs1053.c b/configs/mikroe-stm32f4/src/stm32_vs1053.c
index 341e5508cfe..f3fa1181e36 100644
--- a/configs/mikroe-stm32f4/src/stm32_vs1053.c
+++ b/configs/mikroe-stm32f4/src/stm32_vs1053.c
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ static int up_read_dreq(FAR const struct vs1053_lower_s *lower)
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 /****************************************************************************
- * Name: up_netinitialize
+ * Name: up_vs1053initialize
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 void up_vs1053initialize(FAR struct spi_dev_s* spi)
diff --git a/configs/nucleo-l432kc/src/stm32_appinit.c b/configs/nucleo-l432kc/src/stm32_appinit.c
index e03fcaa81a8..07f6ec44717 100644
--- a/configs/nucleo-l432kc/src/stm32_appinit.c
+++ b/configs/nucleo-l432kc/src/stm32_appinit.c
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_NET
+#if defined(CONFIG_NET) && !defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 void up_netinitialize(void)
 {
 }
diff --git a/configs/stm32f4discovery/src/stm32_netinit.c b/configs/stm32f4discovery/src/stm32_netinit.c
index 5cc73b4a539..36ee755f933 100644
--- a/configs/stm32f4discovery/src/stm32_netinit.c
+++ b/configs/stm32f4discovery/src/stm32_netinit.c
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@
  * Name: up_netinitialize
  ************************************************************************************/
 
+#if defined(CONFIG_NET) && !defined(CONFIG_NETDEV_LATEINIT)
 void up_netinitialize(void)
 {
 }
+#endif
+