diff --git a/boards/arm/cxd56xx/spresense/src/cxd56_bringup.c b/boards/arm/cxd56xx/spresense/src/cxd56_bringup.c
index a736fa3c74..0c5d25c22a 100644
--- a/boards/arm/cxd56xx/spresense/src/cxd56_bringup.c
+++ b/boards/arm/cxd56xx/spresense/src/cxd56_bringup.c
@@ -248,6 +248,12 @@ int cxd56_bringup(void)
 #endif
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_CXD56_SUBCORE
+  /* Set the special pins for the host interface to GPIO mode because
+   * their mode is automatically changed by latching the SYSTEM0/1 pins.
+   */
+
+  CXD56_PIN_CONFIGS(PINCONFS_SPI2A_GPIO);
+
   /* Initialize CPU clock to max frequency */
 
   board_clock_initialize();