diff --git a/examples/platforms/nrf52840/usb-cdc-uart.c b/examples/platforms/nrf52840/usb-cdc-uart.c
index 7e16ef83e..8c325b1ed 100644
--- a/examples/platforms/nrf52840/usb-cdc-uart.c
+++ b/examples/platforms/nrf52840/usb-cdc-uart.c
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 #include <stdint.h>
 
 #include <common/logging.hpp>
+#include <openthread-system.h>
 #include <utils/code_utils.h>
 #include <openthread/platform/alarm-milli.h>
 #include <openthread/platform/diag.h>
@@ -125,6 +126,14 @@ static void cdcAcmUserEventHandler(app_usbd_class_inst_t const *aCdcAcmInstance,
     }
 }
 
+static void usbdIsrHandler(app_usbd_internal_evt_t const *const aEvent, bool aQueued)
+{
+    (void)aEvent;
+    (void)aQueued;
+
+    otSysEventSignalPending();
+}
+
 static void usbdUserEventHandler(app_usbd_event_type_t aEvent)
 {
     switch (aEvent)
@@ -253,7 +262,10 @@ static void processTransmit(void)
 
 void nrf5UartInit(void)
 {
-    static const app_usbd_config_t usbdConfig = {.ev_state_proc = usbdUserEventHandler};
+    static const app_usbd_config_t usbdConfig = {
+        .ev_state_proc  = usbdUserEventHandler,
+        .ev_isr_handler = usbdIsrHandler,
+    };
 
     memset((void *)&sUsbState, 0, sizeof(sUsbState));