diff --git a/src/cli/cli_serial.cpp b/src/cli/cli_serial.cpp
index 2e6fd884f..ff1dcf2ab 100644
--- a/src/cli/cli_serial.cpp
+++ b/src/cli/cli_serial.cpp
@@ -102,10 +102,6 @@ void Serial::ReceiveTask(void)
 
             break;
 
-        case 3: // CTRL-C
-            exit(1);
-            break;
-
         case '\b':
         case 127:
             otPlatSerialSend(sEraseString, sizeof(sEraseString));