diff --git a/drivers/serial/uart_nrfx_uarte.c b/drivers/serial/uart_nrfx_uarte.c
index 5ae9728adb3..ab7dce2ec51 100644
--- a/drivers/serial/uart_nrfx_uarte.c
+++ b/drivers/serial/uart_nrfx_uarte.c
@@ -1260,6 +1260,7 @@ static void uarte_nrfx_pins_enable(struct device *dev, bool enable)
 static void uarte_nrfx_set_power_state(struct device *dev, u32_t new_state)
 {
 	NRF_UARTE_Type *uarte = get_uarte_instance(dev);
+	struct uarte_nrfx_data *data = get_dev_data(dev);
 
 	if (new_state == DEVICE_PM_ACTIVE_STATE) {
 		uarte_nrfx_pins_enable(dev, true);
@@ -1275,6 +1276,13 @@ static void uarte_nrfx_set_power_state(struct device *dev, u32_t new_state)
 		       new_state == DEVICE_PM_SUSPEND_STATE ||
 		       new_state == DEVICE_PM_OFF_STATE);
 
+		/* if pm is already not active, driver will stay indefinitely
+		 * in while loop waiting for event NRF_UARTE_EVENT_RXTO
+		 */
+		if (data->pm_state != DEVICE_PM_ACTIVE_STATE) {
+			return;
+		}
+
 		/* Disabling UART requires stopping RX, but stop RX event is
 		 * only sent after each RX if async UART API is used.
 		 */