diff --git a/hw/openrisc/openrisc_sim.c b/hw/openrisc/openrisc_sim.c
index d9e0744922..83d7c2a8af 100644
--- a/hw/openrisc/openrisc_sim.c
+++ b/hw/openrisc/openrisc_sim.c
@@ -306,8 +306,6 @@ static void openrisc_sim_init(MachineState *machine)
             exit(1);
         }
 
-        cpu_openrisc_clock_init(cpus[n]);
-
         qemu_register_reset(main_cpu_reset, cpus[n]);
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/openrisc/virt.c b/hw/openrisc/virt.c
index 9afe407b00..3055306783 100644
--- a/hw/openrisc/virt.c
+++ b/hw/openrisc/virt.c
@@ -487,8 +487,6 @@ static void openrisc_virt_init(MachineState *machine)
             exit(1);
         }
 
-        cpu_openrisc_clock_init(cpus[n]);
-
         qemu_register_reset(main_cpu_reset, cpus[n]);
     }
 
diff --git a/target/openrisc/cpu.c b/target/openrisc/cpu.c
index 0669ba2fd1..785b065b51 100644
--- a/target/openrisc/cpu.c
+++ b/target/openrisc/cpu.c
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ static void openrisc_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
     cpu_reset(cs);
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+    cpu_openrisc_clock_init(OPENRISC_CPU(dev));
+#endif
+
     occ->parent_realize(dev, errp);
 }