diff --git a/drivers/include/drivers/RealTimeClock.h b/drivers/include/drivers/RealTimeClock.h
index cbd61b98bd2..818981d6a2c 100644
--- a/drivers/include/drivers/RealTimeClock.h
+++ b/drivers/include/drivers/RealTimeClock.h
@@ -73,10 +73,16 @@ class RealTimeClock {
         return rtc_free();
     }
 
-    /** Check if the RTC has the time set and is counting
+    /** Check if the RTC has been initialized and is counting
      *
      * @retval false The time reported by the RTC is not valid
-     * @retval true  The time has been set and the RTC is counting
+     * @retval true  The RTC has been initialized and is counting
+     *
+     * @note In versions of Mbed before 7.0, this function claimed to return false "if the time had not been set."
+     *     However, this was flawed because, in most implementations, it only returned true if the time had been
+     *     set *on this boot*. There wasn't, and isn't, a way to detect whether the time was set correctly by a previous
+     *     boot. To answer that question, you may wish to check if the time is approximately valid (in the 21st
+     *     century), or add another flag at the application level.
      *
      * @see ::rtc_isenabled
      */
diff --git a/hal/include/hal/rtc_api.h b/hal/include/hal/rtc_api.h
index 6c66d939822..2c59d7fba25 100644
--- a/hal/include/hal/rtc_api.h
+++ b/hal/include/hal/rtc_api.h
@@ -44,8 +44,7 @@ extern "C" {
  * * Shutdown mode doesn't stop RTC from counting - Not verified.
  * * The functions ::rtc_write/::rtc_read provides availability to set/get RTC time
  * - Verified by test rtc_write_read_test.
- * * The functions ::rtc_isenabled returns 1 if the RTC is counting and the time has been set,
- * 0 otherwise - Verified by test rtc_enabled_test.
+ * * The function ::rtc_isenabled returns 1 if the RTC has been initialized and 0 otherwise - Verified by test rtc_enabled_test.
  * * ::rtc_read may be called before rtc_write. If the RTC time has not been set, this will return the
  *    time since some arbitrary epoch. If the RTC time was set on a previous boot, this will return time
  *    based on what was set then.
@@ -115,13 +114,23 @@ void rtc_init(void);
  *     POWER_CTRL &= ~POWER_CTRL_RTC_Msk;
  * }
  * @endcode
+ *
+ * @note Implementations are allowed to not implement this function if it's impossible or there is
+ *     no significant benefit to disabling the RTC. As such, the RTC is allowed to remain initialized
+ *     after this function is called if freeing the RTC is not implemented.
  */
 void rtc_free(void);
 
-/** Check if the RTC has the time set and is counting
+/** Check if the RTC has been initialized and is counting
  *
  * @retval 0 The time reported by the RTC is not valid
- * @retval 1 The time has been set the RTC is counting
+ * @retval 1 The RTC has been initialized and is counting
+ *
+ * @note In versions of Mbed before 7.0, this function claimed to return false "if the time had not been set."
+ *     However, this was flawed because, in most implementations, it only returned true if the time had been
+ *     set *on this boot*. There wasn't, and isn't, a way to detect whether the time was set correctly by a previous
+ *     boot. To answer that question, you may wish to check if the time is approximately valid (in the 21st
+ *     century), or add another flag at the application level.
  *
  * Example Implementation Pseudo Code:
  * @code
diff --git a/hal/tests/TESTS/mbed_hal/rtc_reset/CMakeLists.txt b/hal/tests/TESTS/mbed_hal/rtc_reset/CMakeLists.txt
index 594de38b6b7..a635e96fb02 100644
--- a/hal/tests/TESTS/mbed_hal/rtc_reset/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/hal/tests/TESTS/mbed_hal/rtc_reset/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ if(NOT "DEVICE_RTC=1" IN_LIST MBED_TARGET_DEFINITIONS)
 	set(TEST_SKIPPED "RTC is not supported for this target")
 endif()
 
+if(NOT "TARGET_K64F" IN_LIST MBED_TARGET_DEFINITIONS)
+	# Currently this test works OK, but causes the next 5-10 programming operations with OpenOCD to fail
+	set(TEST_SKIPPED "This test causes issues with this target's debug interface")
+endif()
+
 mbed_greentea_add_test(
 	TEST_NAME
 		mbed-hal-rtc-reset
diff --git a/targets/TARGET_Freescale/TARGET_MCUXpresso_MCUS/api/rtc_api.c b/targets/TARGET_Freescale/TARGET_MCUXpresso_MCUS/api/rtc_api.c
index 1165230eb80..5c95bbcef04 100644
--- a/targets/TARGET_Freescale/TARGET_MCUXpresso_MCUS/api/rtc_api.c
+++ b/targets/TARGET_Freescale/TARGET_MCUXpresso_MCUS/api/rtc_api.c
@@ -22,24 +22,31 @@
 #include "fsl_rtc.h"
 #include "PeripheralPins.h"
 
-static bool rtc_time_set = false;
+static bool rtc_enabled = false;
 
 void rtc_init(void)
 {
     rtc_config_t rtcConfig;
 
-    RTC_GetDefaultConfig(&rtcConfig);
-    RTC_Init(RTC, &rtcConfig);
+    if (!rtc_enabled) {
+        RTC_GetDefaultConfig(&rtcConfig);
+        RTC_Init(RTC, &rtcConfig);
 
-    RTC_StartTimer(RTC);
+        RTC_StartTimer(RTC);
+    }
+
+    rtc_enabled = true;
 }
 
 void rtc_free(void)
 {
+    if (rtc_enabled) {
 #if !(defined(FSL_SDK_DISABLE_DRIVER_CLOCK_CONTROL) && FSL_SDK_DISABLE_DRIVER_CLOCK_CONTROL)
-    /* Gate the module clock */
-    CLOCK_DisableClock(kCLOCK_Rtc0);
+        /* Gate the module clock */
+        CLOCK_DisableClock(kCLOCK_Rtc0);
 #endif /* FSL_SDK_DISABLE_DRIVER_CLOCK_CONTROL */
+        rtc_enabled = false;
+    }
 }
 
 /*
@@ -48,18 +55,7 @@ void rtc_free(void)
  */
 int rtc_isenabled(void)
 {
-#if !(defined(FSL_SDK_DISABLE_DRIVER_CLOCK_CONTROL) && FSL_SDK_DISABLE_DRIVER_CLOCK_CONTROL)
-    CLOCK_EnableClock(kCLOCK_Rtc0);
-#endif /* FSL_SDK_DISABLE_DRIVER_CLOCK_CONTROL */
-
-    const bool rtc_init_done = ((RTC->SR & RTC_SR_TCE_MASK) >> RTC_SR_TCE_SHIFT);
-
-    /* If RTC is not initialized, then disable the clock gate on exit. */
-    if(!rtc_init_done) {
-        rtc_free();
-    }
-
-    return (rtc_init_done & rtc_time_set);
+    return rtc_enabled;
 }
 
 time_t rtc_read(void)
@@ -72,8 +68,6 @@ void rtc_write(time_t t)
     RTC_StopTimer(RTC);
     RTC->TSR = t;
     RTC_StartTimer(RTC);
-
-    rtc_time_set = true;
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/targets/TARGET_NXP/TARGET_LPC17XX/CMakeLists.txt b/targets/TARGET_NXP/TARGET_LPC17XX/CMakeLists.txt
index f56be84a76f..e0532c9abec 100644
--- a/targets/TARGET_NXP/TARGET_LPC17XX/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/targets/TARGET_NXP/TARGET_LPC17XX/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ target_sources(mbed-lpc17xx
         spi_api.c
         us_ticker.c
         watchdog_api.c
+        mbed_overrides.c
 
         device/CRP.c
         device/flash_api.c
diff --git a/targets/TARGET_NXP/TARGET_LPC17XX/mbed_overrides.c b/targets/TARGET_NXP/TARGET_LPC17XX/mbed_overrides.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..69d9399c3fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/targets/TARGET_NXP/TARGET_LPC17XX/mbed_overrides.c
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/* mbed Microcontroller Library
+ * Copyright (c) 2025 Jamie Smith
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+#include <rtc_api.h>
+
+void mbed_sdk_init(void)
+{
+    // RTC register block is on at boot, so turn it off until we need it (this is also needed to pass RTC tests).
+    rtc_free();
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/targets/TARGET_NXP/TARGET_LPC17XX/rtc_api.c b/targets/TARGET_NXP/TARGET_LPC17XX/rtc_api.c
index 40591259605..1fb9bbb718b 100644
--- a/targets/TARGET_NXP/TARGET_LPC17XX/rtc_api.c
+++ b/targets/TARGET_NXP/TARGET_LPC17XX/rtc_api.c
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@
 #include "rtc_api.h"
 #include "mbed_mktime.h"
 
-// ensure rtc is running (unchanged if already running)
+// RTC Power/Clock Control bit
+#define LPC_SC_PCONP_PCRTC (1 << 9)
 
 /* Setup the RTC based on a time structure, ensuring RTC is enabled
  *
@@ -36,14 +37,19 @@
  * without impacting if it is the case
  */
 void rtc_init(void) {
-    LPC_SC->PCONP |= 0x200; // Ensure power is on
-    LPC_RTC->CCR = 0x00;
-    
-    LPC_RTC->CCR |= 1 << 0; // Ensure the RTC is enabled
+    if(!rtc_isenabled()) {
+        LPC_SC->PCONP |= LPC_SC_PCONP_PCRTC; // Ensure power is on
+        LPC_RTC->CCR = 0x00;
+
+        LPC_RTC->CCR |= 1 << 0; // Ensure the RTC is enabled
+    }
 }
 
 void rtc_free(void) {
-    // [TODO]
+    // Turn off power for RTC register block.
+    // The datasheet is not very clear, but in my testing, this does not impact the ability of the RTC
+    // to count the time.
+    LPC_SC->PCONP &= ~LPC_SC_PCONP_PCRTC;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -54,7 +60,7 @@ void rtc_free(void) {
  *
  */
 int rtc_isenabled(void) {
-    return(((LPC_RTC->CCR) & 0x01) != 0);
+    return (LPC_SC->PCONP & LPC_SC_PCONP_PCRTC) && (LPC_RTC->CCR & 0x01);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/targets/TARGET_STM/rtc_api.c b/targets/TARGET_STM/rtc_api.c
index 3fb6cc73209..ef5ac309ad1 100644
--- a/targets/TARGET_STM/rtc_api.c
+++ b/targets/TARGET_STM/rtc_api.c
@@ -294,11 +294,7 @@ void rtc_write(time_t t)
 
 int rtc_isenabled(void)
 {
-#if defined (RTC_FLAG_INITS) /* all STM32 except STM32F1 */
-    return LL_RTC_IsActiveFlag_INITS(RTC);
-#else /* RTC_FLAG_INITS */ /* TARGET_STM32F1 */
-    return ((RTC->CRL & RTC_CRL_RSF) ==  RTC_CRL_RSF);
-#endif /* RTC_FLAG_INITS */
+    return RTC_inited;
 }