diff --git a/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5x/TARGET_SDK_11/libraries/util/nrf_assert.h b/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5x/TARGET_SDK_11/libraries/util/nrf_assert.h
index 8ef5a5d501..292c398017 100644
--- a/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5x/TARGET_SDK_11/libraries/util/nrf_assert.h
+++ b/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5x/TARGET_SDK_11/libraries/util/nrf_assert.h
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif
 
+#if !defined(NDEBUG) && !defined(DEBUG_NRF_USER)
+#define DEBUG_NRF_USER
+#endif
+
 #if defined(DEBUG_NRF) || defined(DEBUG_NRF_USER)
 
 /** @brief Function for handling assertions.
diff --git a/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5x/TARGET_SDK_14_2/libraries/util/nrf_assert.h b/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5x/TARGET_SDK_14_2/libraries/util/nrf_assert.h
index 2ec647c87b..67c945aa1c 100644
--- a/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5x/TARGET_SDK_14_2/libraries/util/nrf_assert.h
+++ b/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5x/TARGET_SDK_14_2/libraries/util/nrf_assert.h
@@ -76,6 +76,10 @@ extern "C" {
 void assert_nrf_callback(uint16_t line_num, const uint8_t *file_name);
 //lint -restore
 
+#if !defined(NDEBUG) && !defined(DEBUG_NRF_USER)
+#define DEBUG_NRF_USER
+#endif
+
 #if (defined(DEBUG_NRF) || defined(DEBUG_NRF_USER))
 #define NRF_ASSERT_PRESENT 1
 #else
diff --git a/targets/targets.json b/targets/targets.json
index 619fd42df2..0025d90d9c 100755
--- a/targets/targets.json
+++ b/targets/targets.json
@@ -3524,8 +3524,7 @@
             "CMSIS_VECTAB_VIRTUAL",
             "CMSIS_VECTAB_VIRTUAL_HEADER_FILE=\"cmsis_nvic.h\"",
             "NO_SYSTICK",
-            "MBED_TICKLESS",
-            "DEBUG_NRF_USER"
+            "MBED_TICKLESS"
         ],
         "MERGE_BOOTLOADER": false,
         "extra_labels": [