diff --git a/drivers/modem/modem_context.h b/drivers/modem/modem_context.h
index 3cf11593c0a..daafd2e83e7 100644
--- a/drivers/modem/modem_context.h
+++ b/drivers/modem/modem_context.h
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ struct modem_cmd_handler {
 struct modem_pin {
 	struct device *gpio_port_dev;
 	char *dev_name;
-	u32_t pin;
-	int init_flags;
+	gpio_pin_t pin;
+	gpio_flags_t init_flags;
 };
 
 struct modem_context {
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ int modem_context_register(struct modem_context *ctx);
 /* pin config functions */
 int modem_pin_read(struct modem_context *ctx, u32_t pin);
 int modem_pin_write(struct modem_context *ctx, u32_t pin, u32_t value);
-int modem_pin_config(struct modem_context *ctx, u32_t pin, int flags);
+int modem_pin_config(struct modem_context *ctx, u32_t pin, bool enable);
 int modem_pin_init(struct modem_context *ctx);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
diff --git a/drivers/modem/modem_pin.c b/drivers/modem/modem_pin.c
index 3f71c093813..7d050d6529f 100644
--- a/drivers/modem/modem_pin.c
+++ b/drivers/modem/modem_pin.c
@@ -36,14 +36,15 @@ int modem_pin_write(struct modem_context *ctx, u32_t pin, u32_t value)
 				ctx->pins[pin].pin, value);
 }
 
-int modem_pin_config(struct modem_context *ctx, u32_t pin, int flags)
+int modem_pin_config(struct modem_context *ctx, u32_t pin, bool enable)
 {
 	if (pin < 0 || pin >= ctx->pins_len) {
 		return -ENODEV;
 	}
 
 	return gpio_pin_configure(ctx->pins[pin].gpio_port_dev,
-				  ctx->pins[pin].pin, flags);
+				  ctx->pins[pin].pin,
+				  enable ? cts->pins[pin].flags : GPIO_INPUT);
 }
 
 int modem_pin_init(struct modem_context *ctx)
@@ -58,9 +59,7 @@ int modem_pin_init(struct modem_context *ctx)
 			return -ENODEV;
 		}
 
-		ret = gpio_pin_configure(ctx->pins[i].gpio_port_dev,
-					 ctx->pins[i].pin,
-					 ctx->pins[i].init_flags);
+		ret = modem_pin_config(ctx, i, true);
 		if (ret < 0) {
 			return ret;
 		}
diff --git a/drivers/modem/ublox-sara-r4.c b/drivers/modem/ublox-sara-r4.c
index f153d79a83b..33ad16a2c08 100644
--- a/drivers/modem/ublox-sara-r4.c
+++ b/drivers/modem/ublox-sara-r4.c
@@ -679,7 +679,7 @@ static int pin_init(void)
 	k_sleep(K_SECONDS(10));
 #endif
 
-	modem_pin_config(&mctx, MDM_POWER, GPIO_DIR_IN);
+	modem_pin_config(&mctx, MDM_POWER, false);
 
 	LOG_INF("... Done!");