diff --git a/arch/xtensa/src/common/xtensa_cpupause.c b/arch/xtensa/src/common/xtensa_cpupause.c
index 0d7c4860b6a..5b59200ab23 100644
--- a/arch/xtensa/src/common/xtensa_cpupause.c
+++ b/arch/xtensa/src/common/xtensa_cpupause.c
@@ -192,18 +192,7 @@ void xtensa_pause_handler(void)
 
   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();
-
       up_cpu_paused(cpu);
-
-      leave_critical_section(flags);
     }
 }