diff --git a/arch/risc-v/src/k210/k210_cpupause.c b/arch/risc-v/src/k210/k210_cpupause.c
index 2eaa5737b6..88af783511 100644
--- a/arch/risc-v/src/k210/k210_cpupause.c
+++ b/arch/risc-v/src/k210/k210_cpupause.c
@@ -205,7 +205,6 @@ int up_cpu_paused(int cpu)
 int riscv_pause_handler(int irq, void *c, FAR void *arg)
 {
   int cpu = up_cpu_index();
-  int ret = OK;
 
   /* Clear machine software interrupt */
 
@@ -218,21 +217,10 @@ int riscv_pause_handler(int irq, void *c, FAR void *arg)
 
   if (spin_islocked(&g_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 up_cpu_paused(cpu);
     }
 
-  return ret;
+  return OK;
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************