diff --git a/arch/arc/Kconfig b/arch/arc/Kconfig
index 253c3531ce2..d10ef773d9c 100644
--- a/arch/arc/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/arc/Kconfig
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ config	CPU_ARCEM4
 	bool
 	default y
 	select CPU_ARCV2
+	select ATOMIC_OPERATIONS_C
 	help
 	This option signifies the use of an ARC EM4 CPU
 
@@ -273,19 +274,6 @@ config  ARCH_HAS_NANO_FIBER_ABORT
 	# omit prompt to signify a "hidden" option
 	default n
 
-config  ARC_ATOMIC_ASM
-	bool
-	default n
-	depends on !CPU_ARCEM4
-	help
-	  Say y if the processor supports atomic assembly instructions:
-	  LLOCK and SCOND.
-
-	  Say n if not sure.
-
-	  Note that these instructions are not supported on ARC EM family
-	  processors.
-
 endmenu
 
 
diff --git a/arch/arc/core/Makefile b/arch/arc/core/Makefile
index 87d795b9f21..a0ba3823fbc 100644
--- a/arch/arc/core/Makefile
+++ b/arch/arc/core/Makefile
@@ -15,10 +15,8 @@ obj-y += prep_c.o \
 obj-$(CONFIG_IRQ_OFFLOAD) += irq_offload.o
 obj-$(CONFIG_ERRNO) += errno.o
 
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_ARC_ATOMIC_ASM),y)
+ifneq ($(CONFIG_ATOMIC_OPERATIONS_C),y)
 obj-y += atomic.o
-else
-obj-y += atomic_native.o
 endif
 
 obj-$(CONFIG_IRQ_VECTOR_TABLE_BSP) += irq_vector_table.o
diff --git a/kernel/nanokernel/Kconfig b/kernel/nanokernel/Kconfig
index 5d7aa07aab9..4e7c4d45c4c 100644
--- a/kernel/nanokernel/Kconfig
+++ b/kernel/nanokernel/Kconfig
@@ -106,4 +106,13 @@ config ERRNO
 	include errno.h provided by the C library (libc) to use the errno symbol.
 	The C library must access the per-thread errno via the _get_errno() symbol.
 
+config ATOMIC_OPERATIONS_C
+	bool
+	default n
+	help
+	Use atomic operations routines that are implemented entirely
+	in C by locking interrupts. Selected by architectures which either
+	do not have support for atomic operations in their instruction
+	set, or haven't been implemented yet during bring-up.
+
 endmenu
diff --git a/kernel/nanokernel/Makefile b/kernel/nanokernel/Makefile
index 944a770e033..9369fde11a3 100644
--- a/kernel/nanokernel/Makefile
+++ b/kernel/nanokernel/Makefile
@@ -17,3 +17,4 @@ obj-$(CONFIG_NANO_TIMERS) += nano_timer.o
 obj-$(CONFIG_KERNEL_EVENT_LOGGER) += event_logger.o
 obj-$(CONFIG_KERNEL_EVENT_LOGGER) += kernel_event_logger.o
 obj-$(CONFIG_RING_BUFFER) += ring_buffer.o
+obj-$(CONFIG_ATOMIC_OPERATIONS_C) += atomic_c.o
diff --git a/arch/arc/core/atomic_native.c b/kernel/nanokernel/atomic_c.c
similarity index 98%
rename from arch/arc/core/atomic_native.c
rename to kernel/nanokernel/atomic_c.c
index 2730d7d7f6c..1a1076dceda 100644
--- a/arch/arc/core/atomic_native.c
+++ b/kernel/nanokernel/atomic_c.c
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@
  */
 
 /**
- * @file Atomic ops for ARC EM
+ * @file Atomic ops in pure C
  *
- * This module provides the atomic operators for ARC EM family processors
+ * This module provides the atomic operators for processors
  * which do not support native atomic operations.
  *
  * The atomic operations are guaranteed to be atomic with respect
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 
 #include <atomic.h>
 #include <toolchain.h>
-#include <arch/arc/v2/irq.h>
+#include <arch/cpu.h>
 
 /**
  *