diff --git a/boards/arm/reel_board/board.c b/boards/arm/reel_board/board.c
index 8e73bf52848..b2194a6a70b 100644
--- a/boards/arm/reel_board/board.c
+++ b/boards/arm/reel_board/board.c
@@ -24,6 +24,20 @@ static int board_reel_board_init(struct device *dev)
 
 	gpio->OUTSET = BIT(PERIPH_PON_PIN);
 
+	/*
+	 * Enable pull-up on UART RX pin to reduce power consumption.
+	 * If the board is powered by battery and the debugger is
+	 * not connected via USB to the host, the SoC consumes up
+	 * to 2mA more than expected.
+	 * The consumption increases because RX pin is floating
+	 * (High-Impedance state of pin B from Dual-Supply Bus Transceiver).
+	 */
+	gpio = NRF_P0;
+	gpio->PIN_CNF[DT_NORDIC_NRF_UART_0_RX_PIN] =
+		(GPIO_PIN_CNF_INPUT_Disconnect << GPIO_PIN_CNF_INPUT_Pos) |
+		(GPIO_PIN_CNF_PULL_Pullup << GPIO_PIN_CNF_PULL_Pos) |
+		(GPIO_PIN_CNF_DIR_Input << GPIO_PIN_CNF_DIR_Pos);
+
 	return 0;
 }