diff --git a/src/flash/nor/stm32f1x.c b/src/flash/nor/stm32f1x.c
index 5ad0b6227..037fea07b 100644
--- a/src/flash/nor/stm32f1x.c
+++ b/src/flash/nor/stm32f1x.c
@@ -364,11 +364,6 @@ static int stm32x_protect_check(struct flash_bank *bank)
 	int num_bits;
 	int set;
 
-	if (target->state != TARGET_HALTED) {
-		LOG_ERROR("Target not halted");
-		return ERROR_TARGET_NOT_HALTED;
-	}
-
 	int retval = stm32x_check_operation_supported(bank);
 	if (ERROR_OK != retval)
 		return retval;
diff --git a/src/flash/nor/stm32f2x.c b/src/flash/nor/stm32f2x.c
index 7b8ac941a..1922a8c9a 100644
--- a/src/flash/nor/stm32f2x.c
+++ b/src/flash/nor/stm32f2x.c
@@ -379,14 +379,8 @@ static int stm32x_write_options(struct flash_bank *bank)
 
 static int stm32x_protect_check(struct flash_bank *bank)
 {
-	struct target *target = bank->target;
 	struct stm32x_flash_bank *stm32x_info = bank->driver_priv;
 
-	if (target->state != TARGET_HALTED) {
-		LOG_ERROR("Target not halted");
-		return ERROR_TARGET_NOT_HALTED;
-	}
-
 	/* read write protection settings */
 	int retval = stm32x_read_options(bank);
 	if (retval != ERROR_OK) {
diff --git a/src/flash/nor/stm32lx.c b/src/flash/nor/stm32lx.c
index 7093fa4cb..ec696d2b3 100644
--- a/src/flash/nor/stm32lx.c
+++ b/src/flash/nor/stm32lx.c
@@ -158,11 +158,6 @@ static int stm32lx_protect_check(struct flash_bank *bank)
 
 	uint32_t wrpr;
 
-	if (target->state != TARGET_HALTED) {
-		LOG_ERROR("Target not halted");
-		return ERROR_TARGET_NOT_HALTED;
-	}
-
 	/*
 	 * Read the WRPR word, and check each bit (corresponding to each
 	 * flash sector