diff --git a/modules/mbedtls/Kconfig.tls-generic b/modules/mbedtls/Kconfig.tls-generic
index 68966408cdf..3c11ddd9389 100644
--- a/modules/mbedtls/Kconfig.tls-generic
+++ b/modules/mbedtls/Kconfig.tls-generic
@@ -354,4 +354,11 @@ config MBEDTLS_PK_WRITE_C
 	help
 	  Enable generic public key write functions.
 
+config MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME_DATE
+	bool "Enable date/time validation in mbed TLS"
+	help
+	  System has time.h, time(), and an implementation for gmtime_r().
+	  There also need to be a valid time source in the system, as mbedTLS
+	  expects a valid date/time for certificate validation."
+
 endmenu
diff --git a/modules/mbedtls/configs/config-tls-generic.h b/modules/mbedtls/configs/config-tls-generic.h
index cd673da54ee..e6e42cc7fcf 100644
--- a/modules/mbedtls/configs/config-tls-generic.h
+++ b/modules/mbedtls/configs/config-tls-generic.h
@@ -23,8 +23,7 @@
 #define MBEDTLS_HAVE_ASM
 #endif
 
-/* If we build with POSIX API, automatically use time(), etc. */
-#if defined(CONFIG_POSIX_API)
+#if defined(CONFIG_MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME_DATE)
 #define MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME
 #define MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME_DATE
 #endif