diff --git a/tcl/target/rp2040-core0.cfg b/tcl/target/rp2040-core0.cfg
index 8c3533bfb..6a0f0ed61 100644
--- a/tcl/target/rp2040-core0.cfg
+++ b/tcl/target/rp2040-core0.cfg
@@ -26,7 +26,10 @@ swj_newdap $_CHIPNAME cpu -expected-id $_CPUTAPID
 dap create $_CHIPNAME.dap -chain-position $_CHIPNAME.cpu
 set _TARGETNAME $_CHIPNAME.cpu
 target create $_TARGETNAME cortex_m -dap $_CHIPNAME.dap
-$_TARGETNAME configure -work-area-phys 0x20010000 -work-area-size $_WORKAREASIZE
+
+# Backup the work area. The flash probe runs an algorithm on the target CPU.
+# The flash is probed during gdb connect if gdb_memory_map is enabled (by default).
+$_TARGETNAME configure -work-area-phys 0x20010000 -work-area-size $_WORKAREASIZE -work-area-backup 1
 
 set _FLASHNAME $_CHIPNAME.flash
 set _FLASHSIZE 0x200000