diff --git a/src/core/utils/flash.cpp b/src/core/utils/flash.cpp
index 4487427fe..aa533710d 100644
--- a/src/core/utils/flash.cpp
+++ b/src/core/utils/flash.cpp
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@
 #include "common/code_utils.hpp"
 #include "common/instance.hpp"
 
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_FLASH_API_ENABLE
+
 namespace ot {
 
 const uint32_t ot::Flash::sSwapActive;
@@ -306,3 +308,5 @@ void Flash::Wipe(void)
 }
 
 } // namespace ot
+
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_FLASH_API_ENABLE
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_flash.cpp b/tests/unit/test_flash.cpp
index 92f8ccb43..4710a30c8 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_flash.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit/test_flash.cpp
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ namespace ot {
 
 void TestFlash(void)
 {
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_FLASH_API_ENABLE
     uint8_t readBuffer[256];
     uint8_t writeBuffer[256];
 
@@ -182,6 +183,7 @@ void TestFlash(void)
         VerifyOrQuit(length == key, "Get() did not return expected length");
         VerifyOrQuit(memcmp(readBuffer, writeBuffer, length) == 0, "Get() did not return expected value");
     }
+#endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_FLASH_API_ENABLE
 }
 
 } // namespace ot