diff --git a/features/FEATURE_BLE/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_MCU_NRF51822/hal_patch/nordic_critical.c b/features/FEATURE_BLE/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_MCU_NRF51822/hal_patch/nordic_critical.c
index 0030fbd2f5..c8ebae99a7 100644
--- a/features/FEATURE_BLE/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_MCU_NRF51822/hal_patch/nordic_critical.c
+++ b/features/FEATURE_BLE/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_MCU_NRF51822/hal_patch/nordic_critical.c
@@ -21,12 +21,12 @@
 #include "nrf_soc.h"
 #include "nrf_sdm.h"
 
-static volatile union {
+static union {
     uint32_t _PRIMASK_state;
     uint8_t  _sd_state;
 } _state = { 0 } ;
 static volatile uint32_t _entry_count = 0;
-static volatile bool _use_softdevice_routine = false;
+static bool _use_softdevice_routine = false;
 
 void core_util_critical_section_enter()
 {
diff --git a/hal/targets/hal/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5/nordic_critical.c b/hal/targets/hal/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5/nordic_critical.c
index b2658b812d..4f94263196 100644
--- a/hal/targets/hal/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5/nordic_critical.c
+++ b/hal/targets/hal/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5/nordic_critical.c
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 #include "nrf_sdm.h"
 #include "nrf_nvic.h"
 
-static volatile uint8_t  _sd_state = 0;
+static uint8_t  _sd_state = 0;
 static volatile uint32_t _entry_count = 0;
 
 void core_util_critical_section_enter()