diff --git a/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5/spi_api.c b/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5/spi_api.c
index 225fbf2b47..ba8c7d27cb 100644
--- a/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5/spi_api.c
+++ b/targets/TARGET_NORDIC/TARGET_NRF5/spi_api.c
@@ -141,11 +141,13 @@ static void master_event_handler(uint8_t spi_idx,
 
     if (p_event->type == NRF_DRV_SPI_EVENT_DONE) {
         p_spi_info->flag.busy = false;
+#if DEVICE_SPI_ASYNCH
         if (p_spi_info->handler) {
             void (*handler)(void) = (void (*)(void))p_spi_info->handler;
             p_spi_info->handler = 0;
             handler();
         }
+#endif
     }
 }
 #define MASTER_EVENT_HANDLER(idx) \