diff --git a/tcl/target/nordic/nrf53.cfg b/tcl/target/nordic/nrf53.cfg
index ce2eaf045..137897c57 100644
--- a/tcl/target/nordic/nrf53.cfg
+++ b/tcl/target/nordic/nrf53.cfg
@@ -72,9 +72,11 @@ if { ![using_hla] } {
 	flash bank $_CHIPNAME.net.uicr nrf5 0x01FF8000 0 0 0 $_TARGETNAME_NET
 
 	# System reset sets NETWORK.FORCEOFF which keeps the network core in reset
-	# Don't touch network core during reset
-	$_TARGETNAME_NET configure -event reset-assert {}
-	# and start it after application core reset is finished to make all flash accessible
+	# Don't touch network core during reset - the event handler is
+	# intentionally empty and prevents native processing
+	$_TARGETNAME_NET configure -event reset-assert {;}
+	# and start it after application core reset is finished to make
+	# all flash accessible
 	$_TARGETNAME_APP configure -event reset-init "nrf53_cpunet_release $_CHIPNAME"
 
 	$_TARGETNAME_APP cortex_m reset_config sysresetreq