diff --git a/cpu/nrf9160/cpu.c b/cpu/nrf9160/cpu.c
index a04be65fbe15..e32b7b272e69 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf9160/cpu.c
+++ b/cpu/nrf9160/cpu.c
@@ -41,9 +41,6 @@ void cpu_init(void)
     /* call cortexm default initialization */
     cortexm_init();
 
-    /* enable wake up on events for __WFE CPU sleep */
-    SCB->SCR |= SCB_SCR_SEVONPEND_Msk;
-
     /* initialize stdio prior to periph_init() to allow use of DEBUG() there */
     early_init();