diff --git a/applications/serial_lte_modem/src/main.c b/applications/serial_lte_modem/src/main.c
index 03edcb586..c8b6033d2 100644
--- a/applications/serial_lte_modem/src/main.c
+++ b/applications/serial_lte_modem/src/main.c
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ static bool full_idle_mode;
 /* global variable used across different files */
 struct k_work_q slm_work_q;
 
+/* define semaphore */
+K_SEM_DEFINE(semWake, 0, 1);
+
 /* global variable defined in different files */
 extern uint8_t fota_type;
 extern uint8_t fota_stage;
@@ -54,15 +57,22 @@ void nrf_modem_recoverable_error_handler(uint32_t err)
 {
 	LOG_ERR("Modem library recoverable error: %u", err);
 }
-
+#define USE_SEM_WAKE
 static void exit_idle(struct k_work *work)
 {
 	int err;
 
 	LOG_INF("Exit idle, full mode: %d", full_idle_mode);
+
+#ifdef USE_SEM_WAKE
+	if(k_sem_take(&semWake, K_NO_WAIT ) == 0 )
+		return;
+#endif
 	gpio_pin_interrupt_configure(gpio_dev, CONFIG_SLM_INTERFACE_PIN,
 				     GPIO_INT_DISABLE);
 	gpio_remove_callback(gpio_dev, &gpio_cb);
+
+
 	/* Do the same as nrf_gpio_cfg_default() */
 	gpio_pin_configure(gpio_dev, CONFIG_SLM_INTERFACE_PIN, GPIO_INPUT);
 
@@ -79,6 +89,9 @@ static void exit_idle(struct k_work *work)
 			LOG_ERR("Failed to wake up uart: %d", err);
 		}
 	}
+#ifdef USE_SEM_WAKE
+	k_sem_give(&semWake);
+#endif
 }
 
 static void gpio_callback(const struct device *dev,