diff --git a/hal/api/SerialBase.h b/hal/api/SerialBase.h
index 1d7ae7c34dd..c5096422082 100644
--- a/hal/api/SerialBase.h
+++ b/hal/api/SerialBase.h
@@ -216,8 +216,7 @@ class SerialBase {
 
 protected:
     SerialBase(PinName tx, PinName rx);
-    virtual ~SerialBase() {
-    }
+    virtual ~SerialBase();
 
     int _base_getc();
     int _base_putc(int c);
diff --git a/hal/common/SerialBase.cpp b/hal/common/SerialBase.cpp
index 891c4509751..7975946c844 100644
--- a/hal/common/SerialBase.cpp
+++ b/hal/common/SerialBase.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ SerialBase::SerialBase(PinName tx, PinName rx) :
     serial_irq_handler(&_serial, SerialBase::_irq_handler, (uint32_t)this);
 }
 
+SerialBase::~SerialBase() {
+    serial_free(&_serial);
+}
+
 void SerialBase::baud(int baudrate) {
     lock();
     serial_baud(&_serial, baudrate);
diff --git a/hal/targets/hal/TARGET_Maxim/TARGET_MAX32600/serial_api.c b/hal/targets/hal/TARGET_Maxim/TARGET_MAX32600/serial_api.c
index da2b10bc4d9..f4f37717930 100644
--- a/hal/targets/hal/TARGET_Maxim/TARGET_MAX32600/serial_api.c
+++ b/hal/targets/hal/TARGET_Maxim/TARGET_MAX32600/serial_api.c
@@ -96,6 +96,11 @@ void serial_init(serial_t *obj, PinName tx, PinName rx)
     }
 }
 
+void serial_free(serial_t *obj)
+{
+
+}
+
 //******************************************************************************
 void serial_baud(serial_t *obj, int baudrate)
 {
diff --git a/hal/targets/hal/TARGET_Maxim/TARGET_MAX32610/serial_api.c b/hal/targets/hal/TARGET_Maxim/TARGET_MAX32610/serial_api.c
index da2b10bc4d9..f4f37717930 100644
--- a/hal/targets/hal/TARGET_Maxim/TARGET_MAX32610/serial_api.c
+++ b/hal/targets/hal/TARGET_Maxim/TARGET_MAX32610/serial_api.c
@@ -96,6 +96,11 @@ void serial_init(serial_t *obj, PinName tx, PinName rx)
     }
 }
 
+void serial_free(serial_t *obj)
+{
+
+}
+
 //******************************************************************************
 void serial_baud(serial_t *obj, int baudrate)
 {