diff --git a/components/bootloader_support/include/bootloader_memory_utils.h b/components/bootloader_support/include/bootloader_memory_utils.h
index 988749593c..5ee1dbded7 100644
--- a/components/bootloader_support/include/bootloader_memory_utils.h
+++ b/components/bootloader_support/include/bootloader_memory_utils.h
@@ -20,6 +20,16 @@ extern "C" {
 
 /** The content of this file is to be kept in sync with the common section of esp_memory_utils.h **/
 
+/**
+ * @brief Check if the IRAM and DRAM are separate or using the same memory space
+ *
+ * @return true if the DRAM and IRAM are sharing the same memory space, false otherwise
+ */
+__attribute__((always_inline))
+inline static bool esp_dram_match_iram(void) {
+    return (SOC_DRAM_LOW == SOC_IRAM_LOW && SOC_DRAM_HIGH == SOC_IRAM_HIGH);
+}
+
 /**
  * @brief Check if the pointer is in iram
  *
diff --git a/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_memory_utils.h b/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_memory_utils.h
index 330fc114bf..4326a4f6f4 100644
--- a/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_memory_utils.h
+++ b/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_memory_utils.h
@@ -20,6 +20,16 @@ extern "C" {
 
 /** Common functions, to be kept in sync with bootloader_memory_utils.h **/
 
+/**
+ * @brief Check if the IRAM and DRAM are separate or using the same memory space
+ *
+ * @return true if the DRAM and IRAM are sharing the same memory space, false otherwise
+ */
+__attribute__((always_inline))
+inline static bool esp_dram_match_iram(void) {
+    return (SOC_DRAM_LOW == SOC_IRAM_LOW && SOC_DRAM_HIGH == SOC_IRAM_HIGH);
+}
+
 /**
  * @brief Check if the pointer is in iram
  *
diff --git a/components/heap/.build-test-rules.yml b/components/heap/.build-test-rules.yml
index 90a31dbc77..ee02ab85e3 100644
--- a/components/heap/.build-test-rules.yml
+++ b/components/heap/.build-test-rules.yml
@@ -3,8 +3,3 @@
 components/heap/host_test/host_test_linux:
   enable:
     - if: IDF_TARGET == "linux"
-components/heap/test_apps:
-  disable_test:
-    - if: IDF_TARGET == "esp32c6"
-      temporary: true
-      reason: target esp32c6 is not supported yet
diff --git a/components/heap/heap_caps.c b/components/heap/heap_caps.c
index 850324682b..b33b0ad696 100644
--- a/components/heap/heap_caps.c
+++ b/components/heap/heap_caps.c
@@ -131,7 +131,9 @@ IRAM_ATTR static void *heap_caps_malloc_base( size_t size, uint32_t caps)
                 //doesn't cover, see if they're available in other prios.
                 if ((get_all_caps(heap) & caps) == caps) {
                     //This heap can satisfy all the requested capabilities. See if we can grab some memory using it.
-                    if ((caps & MALLOC_CAP_EXEC) && esp_ptr_in_diram_dram((void *)heap->start)) {
+                    // If MALLOC_CAP_EXEC is requested but the DRAM and IRAM are on the same addresses (like on esp32c6)
+                    // proceed as for a default allocation.
+                    if ((caps & MALLOC_CAP_EXEC) && !esp_dram_match_iram() && esp_ptr_in_diram_dram((void *)heap->start)) {
                         //This is special, insofar that what we're going to get back is a DRAM address. If so,
                         //we need to 'invert' it (lowest address in DRAM == highest address in IRAM and vice-versa) and
                         //add a pointer to the DRAM equivalent before the address we're going to return.
diff --git a/components/heap/test_apps/main/test_malloc_caps.c b/components/heap/test_apps/main/test_malloc_caps.c
index 7a925dca49..b4943e3d79 100644
--- a/components/heap/test_apps/main/test_malloc_caps.c
+++ b/components/heap/test_apps/main/test_malloc_caps.c
@@ -278,3 +278,23 @@ TEST_CASE("RTC memory shoule be lowest priority and its free size should be big
     free(ptr);
 }
 #endif
+
+TEST_CASE("test memory protection features", "[heap][mem_prot]")
+{
+    // try to allocate memory in IRAM and check that if memory protection is active,
+    // no memory is being allocated
+    uint32_t *iram_ptr = heap_caps_malloc(4, MALLOC_CAP_EXEC);
+
+#ifndef CONFIG_ESP_SYSTEM_MEMPROT_FEATURE
+    // System memory protection not active, check that iram_ptr is not null
+    // Check that iram_ptr is in IRAM
+    TEST_ASSERT_NOT_NULL(iram_ptr);
+    TEST_ASSERT(true == esp_ptr_in_iram(iram_ptr));
+
+    // free the memory
+    heap_caps_free(iram_ptr);
+#else
+    // System memory protection is active, DIRAM seen as DRAM, iram_ptr should be null
+    TEST_ASSERT_NULL(iram_ptr);
+#endif // CONFIG_ESP_SYSTEM_MEMPROT_FEATURE
+}
diff --git a/components/heap/test_apps/pytest_heap.py b/components/heap/test_apps/pytest_heap.py
index 1ccc46f047..a6f6007461 100644
--- a/components/heap/test_apps/pytest_heap.py
+++ b/components/heap/test_apps/pytest_heap.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) CO LTD
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022-2023 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) CO LTD
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: CC0-1.0
 
 import pytest
@@ -92,3 +92,18 @@ def test_heap_trace_dump(dut: Dut) -> None:
     dut.expect_exact('Enter next test, or \'enter\' to see menu')
     dut.write('[heap-trace]')
     dut.expect_unity_test_output(timeout=100)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.generic
+@pytest.mark.supported_targets
+@pytest.mark.temp_skip_ci(targets=['esp32c3', 'esp32s3'], reason='test failed')
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    'config',
+    [
+        'mem_prot'
+    ]
+)
+def test_memory_protection(dut: Dut) -> None:
+    dut.expect_exact('Press ENTER to see the list of tests')
+    dut.write('[heap][mem_prot]')
+    dut.expect_unity_test_output(timeout=300)
diff --git a/components/heap/test_apps/sdkconfig.ci.mem_prot b/components/heap/test_apps/sdkconfig.ci.mem_prot
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b6ef908834
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/heap/test_apps/sdkconfig.ci.mem_prot
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+CONFIG_ESP_SYSTEM_MEMPROT_FEATURE=y