diff --git a/trace/control.c b/trace/control.c
index 2ffe000818..6558b5c906 100644
--- a/trace/control.c
+++ b/trace/control.c
@@ -225,6 +225,7 @@ void trace_init_file(const char *file)
 {
 #ifdef CONFIG_TRACE_SIMPLE
     st_set_trace_file(file);
+    st_set_trace_file_enabled(true);
 #elif defined CONFIG_TRACE_LOG
     /*
      * If both the simple and the log backends are enabled, "--trace file"