diff --git a/sw/airborne/firmwares/fixedwing/main_fbw.c b/sw/airborne/firmwares/fixedwing/main_fbw.c
index edc520c8d7..2f15979bbb 100644
--- a/sw/airborne/firmwares/fixedwing/main_fbw.c
+++ b/sw/airborne/firmwares/fixedwing/main_fbw.c
@@ -189,7 +189,9 @@ void event_task_fbw( void) {
   i2c_event();
 #endif
 
+#ifndef SITL
   uart_event();
+#endif
 
 #ifdef INTER_MCU
 #if defined MCU_SPI_LINK | defined MCU_UART_LINK
diff --git a/sw/airborne/firmwares/rotorcraft/main.c b/sw/airborne/firmwares/rotorcraft/main.c
index d90ec9d50c..d1cd09b215 100644
--- a/sw/airborne/firmwares/rotorcraft/main.c
+++ b/sw/airborne/firmwares/rotorcraft/main.c
@@ -275,7 +275,9 @@ STATIC_INLINE void main_event( void ) {
 
   i2c_event();
 
+#ifndef SITL
   uart_event();
+#endif
 
 #if USE_UDP
   udp_event();