diff --git a/browser/brave_browser_process_impl.cc b/browser/brave_browser_process_impl.cc
index 285d7264d29a..b1077146683f 100644
--- a/browser/brave_browser_process_impl.cc
+++ b/browser/brave_browser_process_impl.cc
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "brave/components/brave_shields/browser/https_everywhere_service.h"
 #include "brave/components/brave_shields/browser/referrer_whitelist_service.h"
 #include "brave/components/brave_shields/browser/tracking_protection_service.h"
+#include "brave/components/brave_sync/buildflags/buildflags.h"
 #include "brave/components/brave_sync/network_time_helper.h"
 #include "brave/components/ntp_background_images/browser/features.h"
 #include "brave/components/ntp_background_images/browser/ntp_background_images_service.h"
@@ -198,8 +199,10 @@ void BraveBrowserProcessImpl::StartBraveServices() {
   // Now start the local data files service, which calls all observers.
   local_data_files_service()->Start();
 
+#if BUILDFLAG(ENABLE_BRAVE_SYNC)
   brave_sync::NetworkTimeHelper::GetInstance()
     ->SetNetworkTimeTracker(g_browser_process->network_time_tracker());
+#endif
 }
 
 brave_shields::AdBlockService* BraveBrowserProcessImpl::ad_block_service() {
diff --git a/components/brave_sync/network_time_helper.cc b/components/brave_sync/network_time_helper.cc
index ba84b986d903..3f7aba6d90b7 100644
--- a/components/brave_sync/network_time_helper.cc
+++ b/components/brave_sync/network_time_helper.cc
@@ -43,13 +43,12 @@ void NetworkTimeHelper::SetNetworkTimeForTest(const base::Time& time) {
   network_time_for_test_ = time;
 }
 
-void NetworkTimeHelper::GetNetworkTimeOnUIThread(
-    GetNetworkTimeCallback cb) {
+void NetworkTimeHelper::GetNetworkTimeOnUIThread(GetNetworkTimeCallback cb) {
   DCHECK_CALLED_ON_VALID_SEQUENCE(sequence_checker_);
-  DCHECK(network_time_tracker_);
   base::Time time;
-  if (network_time_tracker_->GetNetworkTime(&time, nullptr) !=
-      network_time::NetworkTimeTracker::NETWORK_TIME_AVAILABLE) {
+  if (!network_time_tracker_ ||
+      network_time_tracker_->GetNetworkTime(&time, nullptr) !=
+          network_time::NetworkTimeTracker::NETWORK_TIME_AVAILABLE) {
     VLOG(1) << "Network time not available, using local time";
     time = base::Time::Now();
   }