diff --git a/hal/api/critical.h b/hal/api/critical.h
index 464ce10e97..2c288a5430 100644
--- a/hal/api/critical.h
+++ b/hal/api/critical.h
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ extern "C" {
   * differs.
   * @return true if interrupts are enabled, false otherwise
   */
-bool are_interrupts_enabled(void);
+bool core_util_are_interrupts_enabled(void);
 
 /** Mark the start of a critical section
   *
diff --git a/hal/common/critical.c b/hal/common/critical.c
index 6426416f44..47bfd23b12 100644
--- a/hal/common/critical.c
+++ b/hal/common/critical.c
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 static volatile uint32_t interrupt_enable_counter = 0;
 static volatile bool critical_interrupts_disabled = false;
 
-bool are_interrupts_enabled(void)
+bool core_util_are_interrupts_enabled(void)
 {
 #if defined(__CORTEX_A9)
     return ((__get_CPSR() & 0x80) == 0);
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ bool are_interrupts_enabled(void)
 
 void core_util_critical_section_enter()
 {
-    bool interrupts_disabled = !are_interrupts_enabled();
+    bool interrupts_disabled = !core_util_are_interrupts_enabled();
     __disable_irq();
 
     /* Save the interrupt disabled state as it was prior to any nested critical section lock use */
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ void core_util_critical_section_exit()
 
 // FIXME
 #ifndef   FEATURE_UVISOR
-        bool interrupts_disabled = !are_interrupts_enabled(); /* get the current interrupt disabled state */
+        bool interrupts_disabled = !core_util_are_interrupts_enabled(); /* get the current interrupt disabled state */
 
         MBED_ASSERT(interrupts_disabled); /* Interrupts must be disabled on invoking an exit from a critical section */
 #else