diff --git a/src/core/config/misc.h b/src/core/config/misc.h
index 5dc48d6482a..7fb9139d7bb 100644
--- a/src/core/config/misc.h
+++ b/src/core/config/misc.h
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@
  * Define to 1 to enable tracking the uptime of OpenThread instance.
  */
 #ifndef OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_UPTIME_ENABLE
-#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_UPTIME_ENABLE OPENTHREAD_FTD
+#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_UPTIME_ENABLE (OPENTHREAD_FTD || OPENTHREAD_MTD)
 #endif
 
 /**