diff --git a/arch/cpu/cc2538/dev/gpio-hal-arch.c b/arch/cpu/cc2538/dev/gpio-hal-arch.c
index dd8e5c513..bd2dfb92d 100644
--- a/arch/cpu/cc2538/dev/gpio-hal-arch.c
+++ b/arch/cpu/cc2538/dev/gpio-hal-arch.c
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ gpio_hal_arch_pin_cfg_set(gpio_hal_pin_t pin, gpio_hal_pin_cfg_t cfg)
     GPIO_DISABLE_INTERRUPT(port_base, pin_mask);
   } else if(tmp == GPIO_HAL_PIN_CFG_INT_ENABLE) {
     GPIO_ENABLE_INTERRUPT(port_base, pin_mask);
+    NVIC_EnableIRQ(port);
   }
 
   GPIO_SOFTWARE_CONTROL(port_base, pin_mask);
diff --git a/arch/cpu/cc2538/dev/gpio-hal-arch.h b/arch/cpu/cc2538/dev/gpio-hal-arch.h
index 78842634a..0b282c738 100644
--- a/arch/cpu/cc2538/dev/gpio-hal-arch.h
+++ b/arch/cpu/cc2538/dev/gpio-hal-arch.h
@@ -55,8 +55,10 @@
 #define PIN_TO_PORT(pin) (pin >> 3)
 #define PIN_TO_PORT_BASE(pin) GPIO_PORT_TO_BASE(PIN_TO_PORT(pin))
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
-#define gpio_hal_arch_interrupt_enable(p) \
-  GPIO_ENABLE_INTERRUPT(PIN_TO_PORT_BASE(p), GPIO_PIN_MASK((p) % 8))
+#define gpio_hal_arch_interrupt_enable(p) do { \
+  GPIO_ENABLE_INTERRUPT(PIN_TO_PORT_BASE(p), GPIO_PIN_MASK((p) % 8)); \
+  NVIC_EnableIRQ(PIN_TO_PORT(p)); \
+} while(0);
 
 #define gpio_hal_arch_interrupt_disable(p) \
   GPIO_DISABLE_INTERRUPT(PIN_TO_PORT_BASE(p), GPIO_PIN_MASK((p) % 8))