diff --git a/include/drivers/emul.h b/include/drivers/emul.h
index 0a07d7e0d6..12e19d5626 100644
--- a/include/drivers/emul.h
+++ b/include/drivers/emul.h
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ struct emul {
 	const char *dev_label;
 	/** Emulator-specific configuration data */
 	const void *cfg;
+	/** Emulator-specific data */
+	void *data;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -78,13 +80,15 @@ extern const struct emul __emul_list_end[];
  *	typedef)
  * @param node_id Node ID of the driver to emulate (e.g. DT_DRV_INST(n))
  * @param cfg_ptr emulator-specific configuration data
+ * @param data_ptr emulator-specific data
  */
-#define EMUL_DEFINE(init_ptr, node_id, cfg_ptr)			\
-	static struct emul EMUL_REG_NAME(node_id)		\
-	__attribute__((__section__(".emulators"))) __used = {	\
-		.init = (init_ptr),				\
-		.dev_label = DT_LABEL(node_id),			\
-		.cfg = (cfg_ptr),				\
+#define EMUL_DEFINE(init_ptr, node_id, cfg_ptr, data_ptr)                                          \
+	static struct emul EMUL_REG_NAME(node_id) __attribute__((__section__(".emulators")))       \
+	__used = {                                                                                 \
+		.init = (init_ptr),                                                                \
+		.dev_label = DT_LABEL(node_id),                                                    \
+		.cfg = (cfg_ptr),                                                                  \
+		.data = (data_ptr),                                                                \
 	};
 
 /**
diff --git a/include/drivers/espi_emul.h b/include/drivers/espi_emul.h
index d467919132..7085dcabb6 100644
--- a/include/drivers/espi_emul.h
+++ b/include/drivers/espi_emul.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 #include <zephyr/types.h>
 #include <device.h>
+#include <drivers/emul.h>
 
 /**
  * @brief eSPI Emulation Interface
@@ -111,9 +112,11 @@ struct emul_espi_device_api {
 /** Node in a linked list of emulators for eSPI devices */
 struct espi_emul {
 	sys_snode_t node;
-	/* API provided for this device */
+	/** Parent emulator */
+	const struct emul *parent;
+	/** API provided for this device */
 	const struct emul_espi_device_api *api;
-	/* eSPI chip-select of the emulated device */
+	/** eSPI chip-select of the emulated device */
 	uint16_t chipsel;
 };
 
diff --git a/include/drivers/i2c_emul.h b/include/drivers/i2c_emul.h
index 999bc0e966..ce9f60a2a3 100644
--- a/include/drivers/i2c_emul.h
+++ b/include/drivers/i2c_emul.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 #include <zephyr/types.h>
 #include <device.h>
+#include <drivers/emul.h>
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
@@ -34,6 +35,9 @@ struct i2c_emul_api;
 struct i2c_emul {
 	sys_snode_t node;
 
+	/** Parent emulator */
+	const struct emul *parent;
+
 	/* API provided for this device */
 	const struct i2c_emul_api *api;
 
diff --git a/include/drivers/spi_emul.h b/include/drivers/spi_emul.h
index ce1fa61c23..d62dc00d87 100644
--- a/include/drivers/spi_emul.h
+++ b/include/drivers/spi_emul.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 #include <zephyr/types.h>
 #include <device.h>
+#include <drivers/emul.h>
 
 /**
  * @brief SPI Emulation Interface
@@ -34,6 +35,9 @@ struct spi_emul_api;
 struct spi_emul {
 	sys_snode_t node;
 
+	/** Parent emulator */
+	const struct emul *parent;
+
 	/* API provided for this device */
 	const struct spi_emul_api *api;
 
diff --git a/subsys/emul/emul_bmi160.c b/subsys/emul/emul_bmi160.c
index d5347bfcd2..08b1aeda12 100644
--- a/subsys/emul/emul_bmi160.c
+++ b/subsys/emul/emul_bmi160.c
@@ -32,8 +32,6 @@ struct bmi160_emul_data {
 	};
 	/** BMI160 device being emulated */
 	const struct device *dev;
-	/** Configuration information */
-	const struct bmi160_emul_cfg *cfg;
 	uint8_t pmu_status;
 	/** Current register to read (address) */
 	uint32_t cur_reg;
@@ -43,8 +41,6 @@ struct bmi160_emul_data {
 struct bmi160_emul_cfg {
 	/** Label of the SPI bus this emulator connects to */
 	const char *bus_label;
-	/** Pointer to run-time data */
-	struct bmi160_emul_data *data;
 	/** Chip registers */
 	uint8_t *reg;
 	union {
@@ -77,9 +73,10 @@ static void sample_read(struct bmi160_emul_data *data, union bmi160_sample *buf)
 	memcpy(buf->raw, raw_data, ARRAY_SIZE(raw_data));
 }
 
-static void reg_write(const struct bmi160_emul_cfg *cfg, int regn, int val)
+static void reg_write(const struct emul *emulator, int regn, int val)
 {
-	struct bmi160_emul_data *data = cfg->data;
+	struct bmi160_emul_data *data = emulator->data;
+	const struct bmi160_emul_cfg *cfg = emulator->cfg;
 
 	LOG_INF("write %x = %x", regn, val);
 	cfg->reg[regn] = val;
@@ -136,9 +133,10 @@ static void reg_write(const struct bmi160_emul_cfg *cfg, int regn, int val)
 	}
 }
 
-static int reg_read(const struct bmi160_emul_cfg *cfg, int regn)
+static int reg_read(const struct emul *emulator, int regn)
 {
-	struct bmi160_emul_data *data = cfg->data;
+	struct bmi160_emul_data *data = emulator->data;
+	const struct bmi160_emul_cfg *cfg = emulator->cfg;
 	int val;
 
 	LOG_INF("read %x =", regn);
@@ -185,13 +183,11 @@ static int bmi160_emul_io_spi(struct spi_emul *emul,
 			      const struct spi_buf_set *rx_bufs)
 {
 	struct bmi160_emul_data *data;
-	const struct bmi160_emul_cfg *cfg;
 	const struct spi_buf *tx, *txd, *rxd;
 	unsigned int regn, val;
 	int count;
 
 	data = CONTAINER_OF(emul, struct bmi160_emul_data, emul_spi);
-	cfg = data->cfg;
 
 	__ASSERT_NO_MSG(tx_bufs || rx_bufs);
 	__ASSERT_NO_MSG(!tx_bufs || !rx_bufs ||
@@ -214,11 +210,11 @@ static int bmi160_emul_io_spi(struct spi_emul *emul,
 			case 1:
 				if (regn & BMI160_REG_READ) {
 					regn &= BMI160_REG_MASK;
-					val = reg_read(cfg, regn);
+					val = reg_read(emul->parent, regn);
 					*(uint8_t *)rxd->buf = val;
 				} else {
 					val = *(uint8_t *)txd->buf;
-					reg_write(cfg, regn, val);
+					reg_write(emul->parent, regn, val);
 				}
 				break;
 			case BMI160_SAMPLE_SIZE:
@@ -252,11 +248,9 @@ static int bmi160_emul_transfer_i2c(struct i2c_emul *emul, struct i2c_msg *msgs,
 				    int num_msgs, int addr)
 {
 	struct bmi160_emul_data *data;
-	const struct bmi160_emul_cfg *cfg;
 	unsigned int val;
 
 	data = CONTAINER_OF(emul, struct bmi160_emul_data, emul_i2c);
-	cfg = data->cfg;
 
 	__ASSERT_NO_MSG(msgs && num_msgs);
 
@@ -278,7 +272,7 @@ static int bmi160_emul_transfer_i2c(struct i2c_emul *emul, struct i2c_msg *msgs,
 		if (msgs->flags & I2C_MSG_READ) {
 			switch (msgs->len) {
 			case 1:
-				val = reg_read(cfg, data->cur_reg);
+				val = reg_read(emul->parent, data->cur_reg);
 				msgs->buf[0] = val;
 				break;
 			case BMI160_SAMPLE_SIZE:
@@ -292,7 +286,7 @@ static int bmi160_emul_transfer_i2c(struct i2c_emul *emul, struct i2c_msg *msgs,
 			if (msgs->len != 1) {
 				LOG_ERR("Unexpected msg1 length %d", msgs->len);
 			}
-			reg_write(cfg, data->cur_reg, msgs->buf[0]);
+			reg_write(emul->parent, data->cur_reg, msgs->buf[0]);
 		}
 		break;
 	default:
@@ -322,11 +316,10 @@ static void emul_bosch_bmi160_init(const struct emul *emul,
 				   const struct device *parent)
 {
 	const struct bmi160_emul_cfg *cfg = emul->cfg;
-	struct bmi160_emul_data *data = cfg->data;
+	struct bmi160_emul_data *data = emul->data;
 	uint8_t *reg = cfg->reg;
 
 	data->dev = parent;
-	data->cfg = cfg;
 	data->pmu_status = 0;
 
 	reg[BMI160_REG_CHIPID] = BMI160_CHIP_ID;
@@ -347,11 +340,12 @@ static int emul_bosch_bmi160_init_spi(const struct emul *emul,
 				      const struct device *parent)
 {
 	const struct bmi160_emul_cfg *cfg = emul->cfg;
-	struct bmi160_emul_data *data = cfg->data;
+	struct bmi160_emul_data *data = emul->data;
 
 	emul_bosch_bmi160_init(emul, parent);
 	data->emul_spi.api = &bmi160_emul_api_spi;
 	data->emul_spi.chipsel = cfg->chipsel;
+	data->emul_spi.parent = emul;
 
 	int rc = spi_emul_register(parent, emul->dev_label, &data->emul_spi);
 
@@ -374,11 +368,12 @@ static int emul_bosch_bmi160_init_i2c(const struct emul *emul,
 				      const struct device *parent)
 {
 	const struct bmi160_emul_cfg *cfg = emul->cfg;
-	struct bmi160_emul_data *data = cfg->data;
+	struct bmi160_emul_data *data = emul->data;
 
 	emul_bosch_bmi160_init(emul, parent);
 	data->emul_i2c.api = &bmi160_emul_api_i2c;
 	data->emul_i2c.addr = cfg->addr;
+	data->emul_i2c.parent = emul;
 
 	int rc = i2c_emul_register(parent, emul->dev_label, &data->emul_i2c);
 
@@ -392,14 +387,13 @@ static int emul_bosch_bmi160_init_i2c(const struct emul *emul,
 
 #define BMI160_EMUL_DEFINE(n, type) \
 	EMUL_DEFINE(emul_bosch_bmi160_init_##type, DT_DRV_INST(n), \
-		&bmi160_emul_cfg_##n)
+		&bmi160_emul_cfg_##n, &bmi160_emul_data_##n)
 
 /* Instantiation macros used when a device is on a SPI bus */
 #define BMI160_EMUL_SPI(n) \
 	BMI160_EMUL_DATA(n) \
 	static const struct bmi160_emul_cfg bmi160_emul_cfg_##n = { \
 		.bus_label = DT_INST_BUS_LABEL(n), \
-		.data = &bmi160_emul_data_##n, \
 		.reg = bmi160_emul_reg_##n, \
 		.chipsel = DT_INST_REG_ADDR(n) \
 	}; \
@@ -409,7 +403,6 @@ static int emul_bosch_bmi160_init_i2c(const struct emul *emul,
 	BMI160_EMUL_DATA(n) \
 	static const struct bmi160_emul_cfg bmi160_emul_cfg_##n = { \
 		.bus_label = DT_INST_BUS_LABEL(n), \
-		.data = &bmi160_emul_data_##n, \
 		.reg = bmi160_emul_reg_##n, \
 		.addr = DT_INST_REG_ADDR(n) \
 	}; \
diff --git a/subsys/emul/espi/emul_espi_host.c b/subsys/emul/espi/emul_espi_host.c
index f659fcdabe..99a925a6b6 100644
--- a/subsys/emul/espi/emul_espi_host.c
+++ b/subsys/emul/espi/emul_espi_host.c
@@ -68,8 +68,6 @@ struct espi_host_emul_data {
 	struct espi_emul emul;
 	/** eSPI controller device */
 	const struct device *espi;
-	/** Configuration information */
-	const struct espi_host_emul_cfg *cfg;
 	/** Virtual Wires states, for one slave only.
 	 *  With multi-slaves config, the states should be saved per slave */
 	struct vw_data vw_state[NUMBER_OF_VWIRES];
@@ -85,8 +83,6 @@ struct espi_host_emul_cfg {
 	const char *espi_label;
 	/** Label of the emulated AP*/
 	const char *label;
-	/** Pointer to run-time data */
-	struct espi_host_emul_data *data;
 	/* eSPI chip-select of the emulated device */
 	uint16_t chipsel;
 };
@@ -258,24 +254,24 @@ static struct emul_espi_device_api ap_emul_api = {
 static int emul_host_init(const struct emul *emul, const struct device *bus)
 {
 	const struct espi_host_emul_cfg *cfg = emul->cfg;
-	struct espi_host_emul_data *data = cfg->data;
+	struct espi_host_emul_data *data = emul->data;
 
 	data->emul.api = &ap_emul_api;
 	data->emul.chipsel = cfg->chipsel;
+	data->emul.parent = emul;
 	data->espi = bus;
-	data->cfg = cfg;
 	emul_host_init_vw_state(data);
 
 	return espi_emul_register(bus, emul->dev_label, &data->emul);
 }
 
-#define HOST_EMUL(n)							  \
-	static struct espi_host_emul_data espi_host_emul_data_##n;	  \
-	static const struct espi_host_emul_cfg espi_host_emul_cfg_##n = { \
-		.espi_label = DT_INST_BUS_LABEL(n),			  \
-		.data = &espi_host_emul_data_##n,			  \
-		.chipsel = DT_INST_REG_ADDR(n),				  \
-	};								  \
-	EMUL_DEFINE(emul_host_init, DT_DRV_INST(n), &espi_host_emul_cfg_##n)
+#define HOST_EMUL(n)                                                                               \
+	static struct espi_host_emul_data espi_host_emul_data_##n;                                 \
+	static const struct espi_host_emul_cfg espi_host_emul_cfg_##n = {                          \
+		.espi_label = DT_INST_BUS_LABEL(n),                                                \
+		.chipsel = DT_INST_REG_ADDR(n),                                                    \
+	};                                                                                         \
+	EMUL_DEFINE(emul_host_init, DT_DRV_INST(n), &espi_host_emul_cfg_##n,                       \
+		    &espi_host_emul_data_##n)
 
 DT_INST_FOREACH_STATUS_OKAY(HOST_EMUL)
diff --git a/subsys/emul/i2c/emul_atmel_at24.c b/subsys/emul/i2c/emul_atmel_at24.c
index 7a632fc938..ea0ad4efd7 100644
--- a/subsys/emul/i2c/emul_atmel_at24.c
+++ b/subsys/emul/i2c/emul_atmel_at24.c
@@ -22,8 +22,6 @@ struct at24_emul_data {
 	struct i2c_emul emul;
 	/** AT24 device being emulated */
 	const struct device *i2c;
-	/** Configuration information */
-	const struct at24_emul_cfg *cfg;
 	/** Current register to read (address) */
 	uint32_t cur_reg;
 };
@@ -32,8 +30,6 @@ struct at24_emul_data {
 struct at24_emul_cfg {
 	/** Label of the I2C bus this emulator connects to */
 	const char *i2c_label;
-	/** Pointer to run-time data */
-	struct at24_emul_data *data;
 	/** EEPROM data contents */
 	uint8_t *buf;
 	/** Size of EEPROM in bytes */
@@ -67,7 +63,7 @@ static int at24_emul_transfer(struct i2c_emul *emul, struct i2c_msg *msgs,
 	bool too_fast;
 
 	data = CONTAINER_OF(emul, struct at24_emul_data, emul);
-	cfg = data->cfg;
+	cfg = emul->parent->cfg;
 
 	if (cfg->addr != addr) {
 		LOG_ERR("Address mismatch, expected %02x, got %02x", cfg->addr,
@@ -141,12 +137,12 @@ static int emul_atmel_at24_init(const struct emul *emul,
 				const struct device *parent)
 {
 	const struct at24_emul_cfg *cfg = emul->cfg;
-	struct at24_emul_data *data = cfg->data;
+	struct at24_emul_data *data = emul->data;
 
 	data->emul.api = &at24_emul_api;
 	data->emul.addr = cfg->addr;
+	data->emul.parent = emul;
 	data->i2c = parent;
-	data->cfg = cfg;
 	data->cur_reg = 0;
 
 	/* Start with an erased EEPROM, assuming all 0xff */
@@ -157,17 +153,16 @@ static int emul_atmel_at24_init(const struct emul *emul,
 	return rc;
 }
 
-#define EEPROM_AT24_EMUL(n) \
-	static uint8_t at24_emul_buf_##n[DT_INST_PROP(n, size)]; \
-	static struct at24_emul_data at24_emul_data_##n; \
-	static const struct at24_emul_cfg at24_emul_cfg_##n = { \
-		.i2c_label = DT_INST_BUS_LABEL(n), \
-		.data = &at24_emul_data_##n, \
-		.buf = at24_emul_buf_##n, \
-		.size = DT_INST_PROP(n, size), \
-		.addr = DT_INST_REG_ADDR(n), \
-		.addr_width = 8, \
-	}; \
-	EMUL_DEFINE(emul_atmel_at24_init, DT_DRV_INST(n), &at24_emul_cfg_##n)
+#define EEPROM_AT24_EMUL(n)                                                                        \
+	static uint8_t at24_emul_buf_##n[DT_INST_PROP(n, size)];                                   \
+	static struct at24_emul_data at24_emul_data_##n;                                           \
+	static const struct at24_emul_cfg at24_emul_cfg_##n = {                                    \
+		.i2c_label = DT_INST_BUS_LABEL(n),                                                 \
+		.buf = at24_emul_buf_##n,                                                          \
+		.size = DT_INST_PROP(n, size),                                                     \
+		.addr = DT_INST_REG_ADDR(n),                                                       \
+		.addr_width = 8,                                                                   \
+	};                                                                                         \
+	EMUL_DEFINE(emul_atmel_at24_init, DT_DRV_INST(n), &at24_emul_cfg_##n, &at24_emul_data_##n)
 
 DT_INST_FOREACH_STATUS_OKAY(EEPROM_AT24_EMUL)