diff --git a/hw/drivers/ipc_nrf5340/pkg.yml b/hw/drivers/ipc_nrf5340/pkg.yml
index ed2ae46b7e..4ad4b9c139 100644
--- a/hw/drivers/ipc_nrf5340/pkg.yml
+++ b/hw/drivers/ipc_nrf5340/pkg.yml
@@ -31,3 +31,4 @@ pkg.deps:
 
 pkg.init:
     ipc_nrf5340_init: 'MYNEWT_VAL(IPC_NRF5340_SYSINIT_STAGE)'
+    ipc_nrf5340_netcore_init: 'MYNEWT_VAL(IPC_NRF5340_NETCORE_SYSINIT_STAGE)'
diff --git a/hw/drivers/ipc_nrf5340/src/ipc_nrf5340.c b/hw/drivers/ipc_nrf5340/src/ipc_nrf5340.c
index 906ad31a5f..6d586799d2 100644
--- a/hw/drivers/ipc_nrf5340/src/ipc_nrf5340.c
+++ b/hw/drivers/ipc_nrf5340/src/ipc_nrf5340.c
@@ -264,7 +264,11 @@ ipc_nrf5340_init(void)
     NRF_GPIO_Type *nrf_gpio;
 #endif
 
+    /* Make sure network core if off when we set up IPC */
+    NRF_RESET->NETWORK.FORCEOFF = RESET_NETWORK_FORCEOFF_FORCEOFF_Hold;
+
     memset(ipc_shared, 0, sizeof(ipc_shared));
+    memset(shms, 0, sizeof(shms));
 
 #if MYNEWT_VAL(NRF5340_EMBED_NET_CORE)
     /*
@@ -286,10 +290,6 @@ ipc_nrf5340_init(void)
     }
 #endif
 
-    /* Make sure network core if off when we set up IPC */
-    NRF_RESET->NETWORK.FORCEOFF = RESET_NETWORK_FORCEOFF_FORCEOFF_Hold;
-    memset(shms, 0, sizeof(shms));
-
     for (i = 0; i < IPC_MAX_CHANS; ++i) {
         shms[i].buf = shms_bufs[i];
         shms[i].buf_size = IPC_BUF_SIZE;
@@ -325,7 +325,11 @@ ipc_nrf5340_init(void)
         /* this allows netcore to access appcore RAM */
         NRF_SPU_S->EXTDOMAIN[0].PERM = SPU_EXTDOMAIN_PERM_SECATTR_Secure << SPU_EXTDOMAIN_PERM_SECATTR_Pos;
     }
+}
 
+void
+ipc_nrf5340_netcore_init(void)
+{
     /* Start Network Core */
     /* Workaround for Errata 161: "RESET: Core is not fully reset after Force-OFF" */
     *(volatile uint32_t *) ((uint32_t)NRF_RESET + 0x618ul) = 1ul;
@@ -358,10 +362,14 @@ ipc_nrf5340_init(void)
 
     ipc_nrf5340_init_nrf_ipc();
     NRF_IPC->SEND_CNF[NET_CRASH_CHANNEL] = (0x01UL << NET_CRASH_CHANNEL);
+}
 
+void
+ipc_nrf5340_netcore_init(void)
+{
     /*
      * If ipc_state is already APP_AND_NET_RUNNING it means that net core
-     * restarted without app core involvment, notify app core about such
+     * restarted without app core involvement, notify app core about such
      * case.
      */
     if (ipc_shared->ipc_state == APP_AND_NET_RUNNING) {
@@ -395,7 +403,7 @@ ipc_nrf5340_reset(void)
     }
 
     /* Start Network Core */
-    NRF_RESET->NETWORK.FORCEOFF = RESET_NETWORK_FORCEOFF_FORCEOFF_Release;
+    ipc_nrf5340_netcore_init();
 }
 #endif
 
diff --git a/hw/drivers/ipc_nrf5340/syscfg.yml b/hw/drivers/ipc_nrf5340/syscfg.yml
index 20e99d37b9..c6ae2f595d 100644
--- a/hw/drivers/ipc_nrf5340/syscfg.yml
+++ b/hw/drivers/ipc_nrf5340/syscfg.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ syscfg.defs:
             Sysinit stage for nRF53 IPC
         value: 10
 
+    IPC_NRF5340_NETCORE_SYSINIT_STAGE:
+        description: >
+            Sysinit stage for nRF53 IPC networking core start. On application
+            core this enables networking core and wait for it to notify that IPC
+            is ready. On networking core this notifies application core that IPC
+            is ready.
+        value: 11
+
     IPC_NRF5340_NET_GPIO:
         description: >
             List of comma separated GPIO that should be configured for Network