diff --git a/examples/platform/esp32/shell_extension/heap_trace.cpp b/examples/platform/esp32/shell_extension/heap_trace.cpp
index adec9cfff4b1ad..4ed70473ac278c 100644
--- a/examples/platform/esp32/shell_extension/heap_trace.cpp
+++ b/examples/platform/esp32/shell_extension/heap_trace.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ constexpr size_t kNumHeapTraceRecords = 100;
 constexpr size_t kNumHeapTasks        = 20;
 constexpr size_t kNumHeapBlocks       = 20;
 
+#if CONFIG_HEAP_TRACING_STANDALONE
 heap_trace_record_t sTraceRecords[kNumHeapTraceRecords];
+#endif
 
 Engine sShellHeapSubCommands;