diff --git a/boards/nxp/mimxrt1170_evk/board.cmake b/boards/nxp/mimxrt1170_evk/board.cmake
index 8781a87cdd65a..f2227d38e318e 100644
--- a/boards/nxp/mimxrt1170_evk/board.cmake
+++ b/boards/nxp/mimxrt1170_evk/board.cmake
@@ -6,10 +6,7 @@
 
 if(CONFIG_SOC_MIMXRT1176_CM7 OR CONFIG_SECOND_CORE_MCUX)
  board_runner_args(pyocd "--target=mimxrt1170_cm7")
- board_runner_args(jlink "--device=MIMXRT1176xxxA_M7" "--reset-after-load")
- # ITCM is not defined in RT1170's LinkServer device file
- board_runner_args(linkserver "--override=/device/memory/-=\{\"location\":\"0x00000000\",\
-                               \"size\":\"0x00040000\",\"type\":\"RAM\"\}")
+ board_runner_args(jlink "--device=MIMXRT1176xxxA_M7")
 
  if(${BOARD_REVISION} STREQUAL "A")
   board_runner_args(linkserver  "--device=MIMXRT1176xxxxx:MIMXRT1170-EVK")
@@ -30,6 +27,11 @@ elseif(CONFIG_SOC_MIMXRT1176_CM4)
  board_runner_args(linkserver "--core=cm4")
 endif()
 
+if(NOT SYSBUILD)
+  board_runner_args(jlink "--no-reset")
+  board_runner_args(linkserver "--no-reset")
+endif()
+
 include(${ZEPHYR_BASE}/boards/common/linkserver.board.cmake)
 include(${ZEPHYR_BASE}/boards/common/jlink.board.cmake)
 include(${ZEPHYR_BASE}/boards/common/pyocd.board.cmake)
diff --git a/scripts/west_commands/runners/linkserver.py b/scripts/west_commands/runners/linkserver.py
index 3dadf49726673..ae3c35e9b57b7 100644
--- a/scripts/west_commands/runners/linkserver.py
+++ b/scripts/west_commands/runners/linkserver.py
@@ -150,7 +150,10 @@ def do_run(self, command, **kwargs):
                            ['-ex', f'target remote {self.gdb_host}:{self.gdb_port}'])
 
                 if command == 'debug':
-                    gdb_cmd += [ '-ex', 'load', '-ex', 'monitor reset']
+                    # If the flash node points to ram, linkserver treats
+                    # the ram as inaccessible and does not flash.
+                    gdb_cmd += ['-ex', 'set mem inaccessible-by-default off']
+                    gdb_cmd += ['-ex', 'monitor reset', '-ex', 'load']
 
                 if command == 'attach':
                     linkserver_cmd += ['--attach']