diff --git a/cpu/nrf52/cpu.c b/cpu/nrf52/cpu.c
index e0dfd28c65..a4bbe57fc0 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf52/cpu.c
+++ b/cpu/nrf52/cpu.c
@@ -64,6 +64,9 @@ void cpu_init(void)
     /* initialize hf clock */
     clock_init_hf();
 
+    /* enable instruction cache */
+    NRF_NVMC->ICACHECNF = (NVMC_ICACHECNF_CACHEEN_Msk);
+
     /* softdevice needs to be enabled from ISR context */
 #ifdef SOFTDEVICE_PRESENT
     softdevice_handler_init(NRF_CLOCK_LFCLKSRC_XTAL_20_PPM, &_ble_evt_buffer,