diff --git a/cmake/modules/soc_v2.cmake b/cmake/modules/soc_v2.cmake
index 866958e1f808bb..50b4d89d4bc1d6 100644
--- a/cmake/modules/soc_v2.cmake
+++ b/cmake/modules/soc_v2.cmake
@@ -22,10 +22,52 @@ include_guard(GLOBAL)
 include(kconfig)
 
 if(HWMv2)
+  # 'SOC_ROOT' is a prioritized list of directories where socs may be
+  # found. It always includes ${ZEPHYR_BASE}/soc at the lowest priority.
+  list(APPEND SOC_ROOT ${ZEPHYR_BASE})
+
+  # Use SOC to search for a 'CMakeLists.txt' file.
+  # e.g. zephyr/soc/xtensa/intel_adsp/CMakeLists.txt.
+  foreach(root ${SOC_ROOT})
+    # Check that the root looks reasonable.
+    if(NOT IS_DIRECTORY "${root}/soc")
+      message(WARNING "\nSOC_ROOT element(s) without a 'soc' subdirectory:
+  ${root}
+  Hints:
+    - if your SoC family directory is '/foo/bar/soc/vendor/my_soc_family', then add '/foo/bar' to SOC_ROOT, not the entire SoC family path
+    - if in doubt, use absolute paths\n")
+    endif()
+
+    if(EXISTS ${root}/soc)
+      set(SOC_DIR ${root}/soc)
+      break()
+    endif()
+  endforeach()
+
+  if(NOT SOC_DIR)
+    message(FATAL_ERROR "Could not find SOC=${SOC_NAME} for BOARD=${BOARD},\n"
+            "please check your installation.\n"
+            "SOC roots searched:\n"
+            "${SOC_ROOT}\n"
+    )
+  endif()
+
+  # Split SOC_FAMILY to obtain the path for specific soc
+  # Example: soc_family = nxp_imx or nxp-imx => PREFIX_DIR=/nxp/imx
+  string(REGEX REPLACE "^([a-zA-Z0-9]+)[_\-]([a-zA-Z0-9]+)$" "\\1/\\2" PREFIX_DIR ${CONFIG_SOC_FAMILY})
+
   set(SOC_NAME   ${CONFIG_SOC})
   set(SOC_SERIES ${CONFIG_SOC_SERIES})
   set(SOC_TOOLCHAIN_NAME ${CONFIG_SOC_TOOLCHAIN_NAME})
   set(SOC_FAMILY ${CONFIG_SOC_FAMILY})
   set(SOC_V2_DIR ${SOC_${SOC_NAME}_DIR})
-  set(SOC_FULL_DIR ${SOC_V2_DIR})
+  set(SOC_FULL_DIR ${SOC_DIR}/${PREFIX_DIR}/${CONFIG_SOC_SERIES})
+
+  if(NOT IS_DIRECTORY ${SOC_FULL_DIR})
+    message(WARNING "Could not find a proper SOC_FAMILY=${CONFIG_SOC_FAMILY} for BOARD=${BOARD},\n"
+          "please check your SOC_FAMILY.\n"
+          "Is expected to be like vendor[_\-]soc_family.\n"
+  )
+  endif()
+
 endif()