diff --git a/samples/bluetooth/central_ht/sample.yaml b/samples/bluetooth/central_ht/sample.yaml
index 2219cac36739f..ddc22b07be7b5 100644
--- a/samples/bluetooth/central_ht/sample.yaml
+++ b/samples/bluetooth/central_ht/sample.yaml
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ tests:
       - nrf51dk/nrf51822
       - nrf52dk/nrf52832
     tags: bluetooth
+    sysbuild: true
     integration_platforms:
       - qemu_cortex_m3
   sample.bluetooth.central_ht.nxp:
diff --git a/samples/bluetooth/central_ht/sysbuild.conf b/samples/bluetooth/central_ht/sysbuild.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..4b4a4bfab2159
--- /dev/null
+++ b/samples/bluetooth/central_ht/sysbuild.conf
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+SB_CONFIG_HARNESS_APPS="samples/bluetooth/peripheral_ht"
diff --git a/scripts/pylib/build_helpers/domains.py b/scripts/pylib/build_helpers/domains.py
index 760217cc282e9..d028054f6466a 100644
--- a/scripts/pylib/build_helpers/domains.py
+++ b/scripts/pylib/build_helpers/domains.py
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@
           build_dir:
             required: true
             type: str
+          app_type:
+            required: false
+            type: str
   flash_order:
     required: false
     type: seq
diff --git a/share/sysbuild/cmake/domains.cmake b/share/sysbuild/cmake/domains.cmake
index 1d197059bf1f3..6632d356e2294 100644
--- a/share/sysbuild/cmake/domains.cmake
+++ b/share/sysbuild/cmake/domains.cmake
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ set(domains_yaml "${domains_yaml}\ndomains:")
 foreach(image ${IMAGES})
   set(domains_yaml "${domains_yaml}\n  - name: ${image}")
   set(domains_yaml "${domains_yaml}\n    build_dir: $<TARGET_PROPERTY:${image},_EP_BINARY_DIR>")
+  set(domains_yaml "${domains_yaml}\n    app_type: $<TARGET_PROPERTY:${image},APP_TYPE>")
 endforeach()
 set(domains_yaml "${domains_yaml}\nflash_order:")
 foreach(image ${IMAGES_FLASHING_ORDER})
diff --git a/share/sysbuild/cmake/modules/sysbuild_extensions.cmake b/share/sysbuild/cmake/modules/sysbuild_extensions.cmake
index a0ca87c4253cd..1b0e84562d106 100644
--- a/share/sysbuild/cmake/modules/sysbuild_extensions.cmake
+++ b/share/sysbuild/cmake/modules/sysbuild_extensions.cmake
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ endfunction()
 #                             and debugging.
 #
 function(ExternalZephyrProject_Add)
-  set(app_types MAIN BOOTLOADER)
+  set(app_types MAIN BOOTLOADER HARNESS)
   cmake_parse_arguments(ZBUILD "" "APPLICATION;BOARD;BOARD_REVISION;SOURCE_DIR;APP_TYPE;BUILD_ONLY" "" ${ARGN})
 
   if(ZBUILD_UNPARSED_ARGUMENTS)
@@ -387,6 +387,10 @@ function(ExternalZephyrProject_Add)
   set(image_default "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/image_configurations/ALL_image_default.cmake")
 
   if(DEFINED ZBUILD_APP_TYPE)
+    # reuse image_configurations for HARNESS APPLICATION
+    if("${ZBUILD_APP_TYPE}" STREQUAL "HARNESS")
+      set(ZBUILD_APP_TYPE "MAIN")
+    endif()
     list(APPEND image_default "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/image_configurations/${ZBUILD_APP_TYPE}_image_default.cmake")
   endif()
 
diff --git a/share/sysbuild/images/CMakeLists.txt b/share/sysbuild/images/CMakeLists.txt
index 1d9e381fa5c45..1ee48e76bf0ff 100644
--- a/share/sysbuild/images/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/share/sysbuild/images/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -35,3 +35,20 @@ set(SYSBUILD_CURRENT_CMAKE_DIR)
 # This allows for board and SoC specific images to be included.
 sysbuild_add_subdirectory(boards)
 sysbuild_add_subdirectory(soc)
+
+# parse and add harness app list from SB_CONFIG_HARNESS_APPS.
+if(SB_CONFIG_HARNESS_APPS)
+  string(REPLACE "," ";" items "${SB_CONFIG_HARNESS_APPS}")
+  message("SB_CONFIG_HARNESS_APPS: ${SB_CONFIG_HARNESS_APPS}")
+
+  foreach(item IN LISTS items)
+    message("Adding Zephyr Project:${item} as HARNESS")
+    string(REPLACE "/" "_" app_name ${item})
+    ExternalZephyrProject_Add(
+        APPLICATION ${app_name}
+        SOURCE_DIR ${ZEPHYR_BASE}/${item}
+        BOARD ${BOARD}
+        APP_TYPE HARNESS
+      )
+  endforeach()
+endif()
diff --git a/share/sysbuild/images/Kconfig b/share/sysbuild/images/Kconfig
index 616b0a7c23d4b..872ac09e0df76 100644
--- a/share/sysbuild/images/Kconfig
+++ b/share/sysbuild/images/Kconfig
@@ -3,3 +3,9 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
 rsource "bootloader/Kconfig"
+
+
+config HARNESS_APPS
+	string "List of harness apps"
+	help
+	  List of harness apps to be built.