diff --git a/boards/common/nrf52/Makefile.include b/boards/common/nrf52/Makefile.include
index 46dd5fffbd..21b20b001f 100644
--- a/boards/common/nrf52/Makefile.include
+++ b/boards/common/nrf52/Makefile.include
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ ifeq (jlink,$(PROGRAMMER))
 
   # special options when using SoftDevice
   ifneq (,$(filter nordic_softdevice_ble,$(USEPKG)))
-    export JLINK_PRE_FLASH := erase\nloadfile $(BINDIR)/softdevice.hex
+    export JLINK_PRE_FLASH := loadfile $(BINDIR)/softdevice.hex
     export FLASH_ADDR := 0x1f000
     export LINKER_SCRIPT ?= $(RIOTCPU)/$(CPU)/ldscripts/$(CPU_MODEL)_sd.ld
     # murdock: softdevice.hex file is used for flashing
diff --git a/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile b/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile
index 4b9ae428b1..02a2822559 100644
--- a/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile
+++ b/pkg/nordic_softdevice_ble/Makefile
@@ -21,8 +21,11 @@ prepare: $(PKG_SRCDIR)/.extracted
 $(BINDIR)/ble_6lowpan.a: $(PKG_SRCDIR)/.extracted
 	cp $(PKG_SRCDIR)/$(BLE_6LOWPAN_LIB) $@
 
+# softdevice.hex has the `[0x8bc, 0x3000[` addresses not set.
+# However, it requires that the value at `0x2000` is 0xFFFFFFFF
+# We just put all the undefined memory to 0xff as it is the rom reset value anyway.
 $(BINDIR)/softdevice.hex: $(PKG_SRCDIR)/.extracted
-	cp $(PKG_SRCDIR)/$(SOFTDEVICE) $@
+	$(Q)$(OBJCOPY) $(OFLAGS) -Oihex --gap-fill 0xff $(PKG_SRCDIR)/$(SOFTDEVICE) $@
 
 $(PKG_SRCDIR)/.extracted: $(PKG_BUILDDIR)/$(PKG_FILE)
 	rm -rf $(@D)