diff --git a/opencl/source/program/build.cpp b/opencl/source/program/build.cpp
index f61351a169..9ee3b0fbef 100644
--- a/opencl/source/program/build.cpp
+++ b/opencl/source/program/build.cpp
@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@ cl_int Program::build(
             appendAdditionalExtensions(extensions, options, internalOptions);
             CompilerOptions::concatenateAppend(internalOptions, extensions);
 
-            if (defaultDevice.getRootDeviceEnvironment().getAILConfigurationHelper()->handleDivergentBarriers()) {
+            auto ailHelper = defaultDevice.getRootDeviceEnvironment().getAILConfigurationHelper();
+            if (ailHelper && ailHelper->handleDivergentBarriers()) {
                 CompilerOptions::concatenateAppend(internalOptions, CompilerOptions::enableDivergentBarriers);
             }
 
diff --git a/opencl/test/unit_test/api/cl_build_program_tests.inl b/opencl/test/unit_test/api/cl_build_program_tests.inl
index 0dde23cfcd..1c5347d2a8 100644
--- a/opencl/test/unit_test/api/cl_build_program_tests.inl
+++ b/opencl/test/unit_test/api/cl_build_program_tests.inl
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (C) 2018-2023 Intel Corporation
+ * Copyright (C) 2018-2024 Intel Corporation
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
  *
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ using namespace NEO;
 struct ClBuildProgramTests : public ApiTests {
     void SetUp() override {
         debugManager.flags.FailBuildProgramWithStatefulAccess.set(0);
+        debugManager.flags.EnableAIL.set(false);
         ApiTests::setUp();
     }
     void TearDown() override {
diff --git a/shared/source/helpers/gfx_core_helper_xehp_and_later.inl b/shared/source/helpers/gfx_core_helper_xehp_and_later.inl
index 04349e633f..79400eb5c4 100644
--- a/shared/source/helpers/gfx_core_helper_xehp_and_later.inl
+++ b/shared/source/helpers/gfx_core_helper_xehp_and_later.inl
@@ -77,8 +77,9 @@ const EngineInstancesContainer GfxCoreHelperHw<GfxFamily>::getGpgpuEngineInstanc
     auto defaultEngine = getChosenEngineType(hwInfo);
 
     EngineInstancesContainer engines;
-
-    if (hwInfo.featureTable.flags.ftrCCSNode && !rootDeviceEnvironment.getAILConfigurationHelper()->forceRcs()) {
+    auto ailHelper = rootDeviceEnvironment.getAILConfigurationHelper();
+    auto forceRcs = ailHelper && ailHelper->forceRcs();
+    if (hwInfo.featureTable.flags.ftrCCSNode && !forceRcs) {
         for (uint32_t i = 0; i < hwInfo.gtSystemInfo.CCSInfo.NumberOfCCSEnabled; i++) {
             engines.push_back({static_cast<aub_stream::EngineType>(i + aub_stream::ENGINE_CCS), EngineUsage::regular});
         }
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@ const EngineInstancesContainer GfxCoreHelperHw<GfxFamily>::getGpgpuEngineInstanc
 
     if ((debugManager.flags.NodeOrdinal.get() == static_cast<int32_t>(aub_stream::EngineType::ENGINE_RCS)) ||
         hwInfo.featureTable.flags.ftrRcsNode ||
-        rootDeviceEnvironment.getAILConfigurationHelper()->forceRcs()) {
+        forceRcs) {
         engines.push_back({aub_stream::ENGINE_RCS, EngineUsage::regular});
     }
 
diff --git a/shared/test/unit_test/device/neo_device_tests.cpp b/shared/test/unit_test/device/neo_device_tests.cpp
index e5b89c68f4..8497510f4a 100644
--- a/shared/test/unit_test/device/neo_device_tests.cpp
+++ b/shared/test/unit_test/device/neo_device_tests.cpp
@@ -1728,3 +1728,14 @@ TEST_F(DeviceTests, givenDebuggerRequestedByUserWhenDeviceWithSubDevicesCreatedT
     EXPECT_EQ(1u, createDebuggerCallCount);
     EXPECT_NE(nullptr, deviceFactory.rootDevices[0]->getL0Debugger());
 }
+
+TEST(DeviceWithoutAILTest, givenNoAILWhenCreateDeviceThenDeviceIsCreated) {
+    DebugManagerStateRestore dbgRestorer;
+    debugManager.flags.EnableAIL.set(false);
+
+    auto hwInfo = *defaultHwInfo;
+    setupDefaultFeatureTableAndWorkaroundTable(&hwInfo);
+    auto device = std::unique_ptr<Device>(MockDevice::createWithNewExecutionEnvironment<MockDevice>(&hwInfo));
+
+    EXPECT_NE(nullptr, device.get());
+}