diff --git a/arch/arm/src/cxd56xx/cxd56_cpupause.c b/arch/arm/src/cxd56xx/cxd56_cpupause.c
index c8bd4108b4..1f5e6b45ef 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/cxd56xx/cxd56_cpupause.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/cxd56xx/cxd56_cpupause.c
@@ -283,6 +283,7 @@ int up_cpu_paused(int cpu)
 int arm_pause_handler(int irq, void *c, FAR void *arg)
 {
   int cpu = up_cpu_index();
+  int ret = OK;
 
   DPRINTF("cpu%d will be paused \n", cpu);
 
@@ -297,10 +298,21 @@ int arm_pause_handler(int irq, void *c, FAR void *arg)
 
   if (spin_islocked(&g_cpu_paused[cpu]))
     {
-      return up_cpu_paused(cpu);
+      /* NOTE: up_cpu_paused() needs to be executed in a critical section
+       * to ensure that this CPU holds g_cpu_irqlock. However, adding
+       * a critical section in up_cpu_paused() is not a good idea,
+       * because it is also called in enter_critical_section() to break
+       * a deadlock
+       */
+
+      irqstate_t flags = enter_critical_section();
+
+      ret = up_cpu_paused(cpu);
+
+      leave_critical_section(flags);
     }
 
-  return OK;
+  return ret;
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************