diff --git a/src/include/sof/trace/trace.h b/src/include/sof/trace/trace.h
index d1beb48d81e2..9da28fab36a3 100644
--- a/src/include/sof/trace/trace.h
+++ b/src/include/sof/trace/trace.h
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ struct tr_ctx {
 	uint32_t level;				/**< Default log level */
 };
 
-#if defined(UNIT_TEST)
+#if defined(UNIT_TEST) || !defined(CONFIG_TRACE)
 #define TRACE_CONTEXT_SECTION
 #else
 #define TRACE_CONTEXT_SECTION __section(".trace_ctx")