diff --git a/cpu/fe310/cpu.c b/cpu/fe310/cpu.c
index b8e12ec446..f7cedd178e 100644
--- a/cpu/fe310/cpu.c
+++ b/cpu/fe310/cpu.c
@@ -334,8 +334,8 @@ void cpu_switch_context_exit(void)
     /* enable interrupts */
     irq_enable();
 
-    /* start the thread */
-    thread_yield();
+    /* start the thread by triggering a context switch */
+    thread_yield_higher();
     UNREACHABLE();
 }