diff --git a/src/ec/google/chromeec/Kconfig b/src/ec/google/chromeec/Kconfig
index b09c64a88c..081f7cb754 100644
--- a/src/ec/google/chromeec/Kconfig
+++ b/src/ec/google/chromeec/Kconfig
@@ -261,6 +261,12 @@ config EC_GOOGLE_CHROMEEC_BATTERY_SOC_DYNAMIC
 	  which retrieves cached telemetry from the EC rather than triggering
 	  a synchronous bus transaction to the battery.
 
+config EC_GOOGLE_CHROMEEC_LED_CONTROL
+	bool
+	help
+	  Enable manual AP control over ChromeEC LEDs/lightbars to ensure
+	  visual continuity with AP-side boot animations.
+
 endif # EC_GOOGLE_CHROMEEC
 
 source "src/ec/google/chromeec/*/Kconfig"
diff --git a/src/mainboard/google/bluey/mainboard.c b/src/mainboard/google/bluey/mainboard.c
index 30cf5b13d8..223daf89c8 100644
--- a/src/mainboard/google/bluey/mainboard.c
+++ b/src/mainboard/google/bluey/mainboard.c
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ static void mainboard_init(struct device *dev)
 		 * This maintains visual consistency between the built-in display
 		 * indicators and the external lightbar.
 		 */
-		if (CONFIG(EC_GOOGLE_CHROMEEC))
+		if (CONFIG(EC_GOOGLE_CHROMEEC_LED_CONTROL))
 			google_chromeec_lightbar_off();
 
 		/* Boot to charging applet */
diff --git a/src/mainboard/google/bluey/romstage.c b/src/mainboard/google/bluey/romstage.c
index a415228e8b..891809f045 100644
--- a/src/mainboard/google/bluey/romstage.c
+++ b/src/mainboard/google/bluey/romstage.c
@@ -124,23 +124,30 @@ static void early_setup_usb(void)
 	early_setup_usb_typec();
 }
 
-void platform_romstage_main(void)
+static void platform_init_lightbar(void)
 {
+	if (!CONFIG(EC_GOOGLE_CHROMEEC_LED_CONTROL))
+		return;
+
 	/*
 	 * Early initialization of the Chrome EC lightbar.
 	 * Ensures visual continuity if the AP firmware disabled the lightbar
 	 * in a previous boot without a subsequent EC reset.
 	 */
-	if (CONFIG(EC_GOOGLE_CHROMEEC))
-		google_chromeec_lightbar_on();
+	google_chromeec_lightbar_on();
 
 	/*
 	 * Only alert the user (set LED to red in color) if the lid is closed and the battery
 	 * is critically low without AC power.
 	 */
-	if (CONFIG(EC_GOOGLE_CHROMEEC) && CONFIG(VBOOT_LID_SWITCH) && !get_lid_switch() &&
-			 google_chromeec_is_critically_low_on_battery())
+	if (CONFIG(VBOOT_LID_SWITCH) && !get_lid_switch() &&
+	    google_chromeec_is_critically_low_on_battery())
 		google_chromeec_set_lightbar_rgb(0xff, 0xff, 0x00, 0x00);
+}
+
+void platform_romstage_main(void)
+{
+	platform_init_lightbar();
 
 	/* Setup early USB related config */
 	early_setup_usb();
diff --git a/src/mainboard/google/fatcat/romstage.c b/src/mainboard/google/fatcat/romstage.c
index 5098cd3d8b..04b39c58c4 100644
--- a/src/mainboard/google/fatcat/romstage.c
+++ b/src/mainboard/google/fatcat/romstage.c
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ void platform_romstage_pre_mem(void)
 	 * Ensures visual continuity if the AP firmware disabled the lightbar
 	 * in a previous boot without a subsequent EC reset.
 	 */
-	if (CONFIG(EC_GOOGLE_CHROMEEC))
+	if (CONFIG(EC_GOOGLE_CHROMEEC_LED_CONTROL))
 		google_chromeec_lightbar_on();
 
 	/*