diff --git a/cpu/cortexm_common/cortexm_init.c b/cpu/cortexm_common/cortexm_init.c
index 5419d92db7..39ff3a9081 100644
--- a/cpu/cortexm_common/cortexm_init.c
+++ b/cpu/cortexm_common/cortexm_init.c
@@ -49,4 +49,7 @@ void cortexm_init(void)
     for (IRQn_Type i = 0; i < (int) CPU_IRQ_NUMOF; i++) {
         NVIC_SetPriority(i, CPU_DEFAULT_IRQ_PRIO);
     }
+
+    /* enable wake up on events for __WFE CPU sleep */
+    SCB->SCR |= SCB_SCR_SEVONPEND_Msk;
 }
diff --git a/cpu/cortexm_common/include/cpu.h b/cpu/cortexm_common/include/cpu.h
index c2a79cbacd..fbffb0f2da 100644
--- a/cpu/cortexm_common/include/cpu.h
+++ b/cpu/cortexm_common/include/cpu.h
@@ -102,6 +102,18 @@ static inline void cpu_print_last_instruction(void)
     printf("%p\n", (void*) lr_ptr);
 }
 
+/**
+ * @brief   Put the CPU into the 'wait for event' sleep mode
+ *
+ * This function is meant to be used for short periods of time, where it is not
+ * feasible to switch to the idle thread and back.
+ */
+static inline void cpu_sleep_until_event(void)
+{
+    __SEV();
+    __WFE();
+}
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif