diff --git a/cpu/nrf5x_common/periph/hwrng.c b/cpu/nrf5x_common/periph/hwrng.c
index 5bdc6b8346e6..5510c080be20 100644
--- a/cpu/nrf5x_common/periph/hwrng.c
+++ b/cpu/nrf5x_common/periph/hwrng.c
@@ -24,12 +24,20 @@
 
 #include "cpu.h"
 #include "periph/hwrng.h"
+#ifndef MODULE_NORDIC_SOFTDEVICE_BLE
+#include "assert.h"
+#endif
 
 void hwrng_init(void)
 {
     /* nothing to do here */
 }
 
+/*
+ * The hardware peripheral is used by the SoftDevice. When the SoftDevice is
+ * enabled, it shall only be accessed through the SoftDevice API
+ */
+#ifndef MODULE_NORDIC_SOFTDEVICE_BLE
 void hwrng_read(void *buf, unsigned int num)
 {
     unsigned int count = 0;
@@ -62,3 +70,24 @@ void hwrng_read(void *buf, unsigned int num)
     NRF_RNG->POWER = 0;
 #endif
 }
+
+#else
+
+void hwrng_read(void *buf, unsigned int num)
+{
+    uint32_t ret;
+    uint8_t avail;
+
+    assert(num <= 0xff);
+
+    /* this is not the most efficient, but this way we can assure that there are
+     * enough bytes of random data available */
+    do {
+        sd_rand_application_bytes_available_get(&avail);
+    } while (avail < (uint8_t)num);
+
+    ret = sd_rand_application_vector_get((uint8_t *)buf, (uint8_t)num);
+    assert(ret == NRF_SUCCESS);
+    (void)ret;
+}
+#endif /* MODULE_NORDIC_SOFTDEVICE_BLE */