diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/serial_base.h b/drivers/tty/serial/serial_base.h
index 39dab6bd4b76..ab6f1876726c 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/serial_base.h
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/serial_base.h
@@ -51,8 +51,6 @@ void serial_core_unregister_port(struct uart_driver *drv, struct uart_port *port
 int serial_base_add_preferred_console(struct uart_driver *drv,
 				      struct uart_port *port);
 
-int serial_base_add_isa_preferred_console(const char *name, int idx);
-
 #else
 
 static inline
@@ -62,6 +60,14 @@ int serial_base_add_preferred_console(struct uart_driver *drv,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+#endif
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_SERIAL_8250_CONSOLE
+
+int serial_base_add_isa_preferred_console(const char *name, int idx);
+
+#else
+
 static inline
 int serial_base_add_isa_preferred_console(const char *name, int idx)
 {
diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/serial_base_bus.c b/drivers/tty/serial/serial_base_bus.c
index ae18871c0f36..281a2d5a7332 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/serial_base_bus.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/serial_base_bus.c
@@ -219,6 +219,8 @@ static int serial_base_add_one_prefcon(const char *match, const char *dev_name,
 	return ret;
 }
 
+#endif
+
 #ifdef __sparc__
 
 /* Handle Sparc ttya and ttyb options as done in console_setup() */
@@ -329,15 +331,6 @@ int serial_base_add_isa_preferred_console(const char *name, int idx)
 	return serial_base_add_prefcon(name, idx);
 }
 
-#else
-
-int serial_base_add_isa_preferred_console(const char *name, int idx)
-{
-	return 0;
-}
-
-#endif
-
 #endif
 
 static int serial_base_init(void)