diff --git a/libraries/AP_Networking/AP_Networking.h b/libraries/AP_Networking/AP_Networking.h
index f5db359962..128e6c2c29 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Networking/AP_Networking.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Networking/AP_Networking.h
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ private:
         TCP_SERVER = 4,
     };
 
+#if AP_NETWORKING_REGISTER_PORT_ENABLED
     // class for NET_Pn_* parameters
     class Port : public AP_SerialManager::RegisteredPort {
     public:
@@ -270,6 +271,7 @@ private:
 
         HAL_Semaphore sem;
     };
+#endif // AP_NETWORKING_REGISTER_PORT_ENABLED
 
 private:
     uint32_t announce_ms;
@@ -286,8 +288,10 @@ private:
     void test_TCP_discard(void);
 #endif // AP_NETWORKING_TESTS_ENABLED
 
+#if AP_NETWORKING_REGISTER_PORT_ENABLED
     // ports for registration with serial manager
     Port ports[AP_NETWORKING_NUM_PORTS];
+#endif
 
     // support for sendfile()
     struct SendFile {
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Networking/AP_Networking_Config.h b/libraries/AP_Networking/AP_Networking_Config.h
index d9d8532eef..5b66134957 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Networking/AP_Networking_Config.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Networking/AP_Networking_Config.h
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include <AP_HAL/AP_HAL_Boards.h>
+#include <AP_SerialManager/AP_SerialManager_config.h>
 
 #if defined(AP_NETWORKING_BACKEND_PPP) && !defined(AP_NETWORKING_ENABLED)
 // allow --enable-ppp to enable networking
@@ -133,3 +134,6 @@
 #define AP_NETWORKING_REMOTE_PPP_IP "0.0.0.0"
 #endif
 
+#ifndef AP_NETWORKING_REGISTER_PORT_ENABLED
+#define AP_NETWORKING_REGISTER_PORT_ENABLED AP_NETWORKING_ENABLED && AP_SERIALMANAGER_REGISTER_ENABLED
+#endif
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Networking/AP_Networking_port.cpp b/libraries/AP_Networking/AP_Networking_port.cpp
index 1074d89635..07c35ab070 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Networking/AP_Networking_port.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Networking/AP_Networking_port.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 #include "AP_Networking_Config.h"
 
-#if AP_NETWORKING_ENABLED
+#if AP_NETWORKING_REGISTER_PORT_ENABLED
 
 #include "AP_Networking.h"
 #include <AP_HAL/utility/Socket.h>
@@ -476,4 +476,6 @@ enum AP_HAL::UARTDriver::flow_control AP_Networking::Port::get_flow_control(void
     return AP_HAL::UARTDriver::FLOW_CONTROL_DISABLE;
 }
 
-#endif // AP_NETWORKING_ENABLED
+#endif // AP_NETWORKING_REGISTER_PORT_ENABLED
+
+