diff --git a/drivers/serial/cpm_uart/cpm_uart_core.c b/drivers/serial/cpm_uart/cpm_uart_core.c
index 0abb544ae63d..32fd8c83bd8e 100644
--- a/drivers/serial/cpm_uart/cpm_uart_core.c
+++ b/drivers/serial/cpm_uart/cpm_uart_core.c
@@ -195,10 +195,8 @@ static void cpm_uart_start_tx(struct uart_port *port)
 	if (cpm_uart_tx_pump(port) != 0) {
 		if (IS_SMC(pinfo)) {
 			smcp->smc_smcm |= SMCM_TX;
-			smcp->smc_smcmr |= SMCMR_TEN;
 		} else {
 			sccp->scc_sccm |= UART_SCCM_TX;
-			pinfo->sccp->scc_gsmrl |= SCC_GSMRL_ENT;
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -421,9 +419,10 @@ static int cpm_uart_startup(struct uart_port *port)
 	/* Startup rx-int */
 	if (IS_SMC(pinfo)) {
 		pinfo->smcp->smc_smcm |= SMCM_RX;
-		pinfo->smcp->smc_smcmr |= SMCMR_REN;
+		pinfo->smcp->smc_smcmr |= (SMCMR_REN | SMCMR_TEN);
 	} else {
 		pinfo->sccp->scc_sccm |= UART_SCCM_RX;
+		pinfo->sccp->scc_gsmrl |= (SCC_GSMRL_ENR | SCC_GSMRL_ENT);
 	}
 
 	if (!(pinfo->flags & FLAG_CONSOLE))