diff --git a/src/lib/spinel/openthread-spinel-config.h b/src/lib/spinel/openthread-spinel-config.h
index 3cd91f243..58ff993ba 100644
--- a/src/lib/spinel/openthread-spinel-config.h
+++ b/src/lib/spinel/openthread-spinel-config.h
@@ -55,4 +55,13 @@
 #define OPENTHREAD_SPINEL_CONFIG_RCP_RESTORATION_MAX_COUNT 0
 #endif
 
+/**
+ * @def OPENTHREAD_SPINEL_CONFIG_ABORT_ON_UNEXPECTED_RCP_RESET_ENABLE
+ *
+ * Define 1 to abort the host when receiving unexpected reset from RCP.
+ *
+ */
+#ifndef OPENTHREAD_SPINEL_CONFIG_ABORT_ON_UNEXPECTED_RCP_RESET_ENABLE
+#define OPENTHREAD_SPINEL_CONFIG_ABORT_ON_UNEXPECTED_RCP_RESET_ENABLE 0
+#endif
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_SPINEL_CONFIG_H_
diff --git a/src/lib/spinel/radio_spinel_impl.hpp b/src/lib/spinel/radio_spinel_impl.hpp
index d4d78f176..4bdc033ac 100644
--- a/src/lib/spinel/radio_spinel_impl.hpp
+++ b/src/lib/spinel/radio_spinel_impl.hpp
@@ -2259,6 +2259,8 @@ void RadioSpinel<InterfaceType, ProcessContextType>::HandleRcpUnexpectedReset(sp
 
 #if OPENTHREAD_SPINEL_CONFIG_RCP_RESTORATION_MAX_COUNT > 0
     mRcpFailed = true;
+#elif OPENTHREAD_SPINEL_CONFIG_ABORT_ON_UNEXPECTED_RCP_RESET_ENABLE
+    abort();
 #else
     DieNow(OT_EXIT_RADIO_SPINEL_RESET);
 #endif