diff --git a/ports/nrf/boards/pca10100/mpconfigboard.mk b/ports/nrf/boards/pca10100/mpconfigboard.mk
index 74080a1ed9..dd59eb96c9 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/boards/pca10100/mpconfigboard.mk
+++ b/ports/nrf/boards/pca10100/mpconfigboard.mk
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ MCU_CHIP = nrf52833
 
 INTERNAL_FLASH_FILESYSTEM = 1
 
+CIRCUITPY_ALARM = 0
 CIRCUITPY_AUDIOMP3 = 0
 CIRCUITPY_BITBANGIO = 0
 CIRCUITPY_BITMAPTOOLS = 0
diff --git a/ports/nrf/boards/simmel/mpconfigboard.mk b/ports/nrf/boards/simmel/mpconfigboard.mk
index 005ec8af2f..e6750877b2 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/boards/simmel/mpconfigboard.mk
+++ b/ports/nrf/boards/simmel/mpconfigboard.mk
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ MCU_CHIP = nrf52833
 
 INTERNAL_FLASH_FILESYSTEM = 1
 
+CIRCUITPY_ALARM = 0
 CIRCUITPY_AESIO = 1
 CIRCUITPY_AUDIOMP3 = 0
 CIRCUITPY_BITMAPTOOLS = 0
diff --git a/ports/nrf/mpconfigport.mk b/ports/nrf/mpconfigport.mk
index a5766cf1fe..132aba208f 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/mpconfigport.mk
+++ b/ports/nrf/mpconfigport.mk
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ CIRCUITPY_COUNTIO = 0
 CIRCUITPY_WATCHDOG ?= 1
 
 # Sleep and Wakeup
-CIRCUITPY_ALARM = 1
+CIRCUITPY_ALARM ?= 1
 
 # nRF52840-specific
 
diff --git a/ports/nrf/supervisor/port.c b/ports/nrf/supervisor/port.c
index 5cad994c0d..8026e51d84 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/supervisor/port.c
+++ b/ports/nrf/supervisor/port.c
@@ -108,7 +108,9 @@ void rtc_handler(nrfx_rtc_int_type_t int_type) {
         nrfx_rtc_cc_set(&rtc_instance, 0, 0, false);
     } else if (int_type == NRFX_RTC_INT_COMPARE1) {
         // used in light sleep
+        #if CIRCUITPY_ALARM
         sleepmem_wakeup_event = SLEEPMEM_WAKEUP_BY_TIMER;
+        #endif
         nrfx_rtc_cc_set(&rtc_instance, 1, 0, false);
     }
 }
@@ -184,7 +186,9 @@ safe_mode_t port_init(void) {
     NRF_POWER->RESETREAS = reset_reason_saved;
     // clear wakeup event/pin when reset by reset-pin
     if (reset_reason_saved & NRF_POWER_RESETREAS_RESETPIN_MASK) {
+        #if CIRCUITPY_ALARM
         sleepmem_wakeup_event = SLEEPMEM_WAKEUP_BY_NONE;
+        #endif
     }
 
     // If the board was reset by the WatchDogTimer, we may