diff --git a/include/mbedtls/config.h b/include/mbedtls/config.h
index b0296eb8db..109f217bf3 100644
--- a/include/mbedtls/config.h
+++ b/include/mbedtls/config.h
@@ -128,7 +128,12 @@
  * MBEDTLS_PLATFORM_TIME_MACRO, MBEDTLS_PLATFORM_TIME_TYPE_MACRO and
  * MBEDTLS_PLATFORM_STD_TIME.
  *
- * Comment if your system does not support time functions
+ * Comment if your system does not support time functions.
+ *
+ * \note If MBEDTLS_TIMING_C is set - to enable the semi-portable timing
+ *       interface - timing.c will include time.h on suitable platforms
+ *       regardless of the setting of MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME, unless
+ *       MBEDTLS_TIMING_ALT is used. See timing.c for more information.
  */
 #define MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME
 
@@ -3466,6 +3471,10 @@
  * your own implementation of the whole module by setting
  * \c MBEDTLS_TIMING_ALT in the current file.
  *
+ * \note The timing module will include time.h on suitable platforms
+ *       regardless of the setting of MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME, unless
+ *       MBEDTLS_TIMING_ALT is used. See timing.c for more information.
+ *
  * \note See also our Knowledge Base article about porting to a new
  * environment:
  * https://tls.mbed.org/kb/how-to/how-do-i-port-mbed-tls-to-a-new-environment-OS
diff --git a/library/timing.c b/library/timing.c
index d46a6d85ec..57bc9bcc12 100644
--- a/library/timing.c
+++ b/library/timing.c
@@ -57,14 +57,14 @@ struct _hr_time
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <signal.h>
-#if defined(MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME)
+/* time.h should be included independently of MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME. If the
+ * platform matches the ifdefs above, it will be used. */
 #include <time.h>
 #include <sys/time.h>
 struct _hr_time
 {
     struct timeval start;
 };
-#endif
 #endif /* _WIN32 && !EFIX64 && !EFI32 */
 
 #if !defined(HAVE_HARDCLOCK) && defined(MBEDTLS_HAVE_ASM) &&  \
diff --git a/tests/suites/test_suite_timing.data b/tests/suites/test_suite_timing.data
index b7b089c443..2522da1eaf 100644
--- a/tests/suites/test_suite_timing.data
+++ b/tests/suites/test_suite_timing.data
@@ -1,23 +1,17 @@
 Timing: hardclock
-depends_on:MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME
 timing_hardclock:
 
 Timing: get timer
-depends_on:MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME
 timing_get_timer:
 
 Timing: set alarm with no delay
-depends_on:MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME
 timing_set_alarm:0:
 
 Timing: set alarm with 1s delay
-depends_on:MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME
 timing_set_alarm:1:
 
 Timing: delay 0ms
-depends_on:MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME
 timing_delay:0:
 
 Timing: delay 100ms
-depends_on:MBEDTLS_HAVE_TIME
 timing_delay:100: