diff --git a/components/freertos/port/esp8266/xtensa_vectors.S b/components/freertos/port/esp8266/xtensa_vectors.S
index e830748f..4641049b 100644
--- a/components/freertos/port/esp8266/xtensa_vectors.S
+++ b/components/freertos/port/esp8266/xtensa_vectors.S
@@ -1521,9 +1521,15 @@ _xt_ext_panic:
      *
      * Todo: Close NMI
      */
-    rsil    a0, XCHAL_EXCM_LEVEL
+    rsil    a0, PS_INTLEVEL(5)
     wsr     a0, EXCSAVE_2
 
+    /*
+     * CPU must switch from kernel mode to user mode
+     */
+    movi    a0, PS_INTLEVEL(5) | PS_UM
+    wsr     a0, PS
+
     /* Allocate exception frame and save minimal context. */
     mov     a0, sp
     movi    sp, _chip_interrupt_tmp