diff --git a/sw/applications/example_matadd/main.c b/sw/applications/example_matadd/main.c
index 5e4069a2b..80fdb6555 100644
--- a/sw/applications/example_matadd/main.c
+++ b/sw/applications/example_matadd/main.c
@@ -30,16 +30,17 @@ int main()
     int N = WIDTH;
     int M = HEIGHT;
     uint32_t errors = 0;
-    unsigned int instr, cycles, ldstall, jrstall, imstall;
+    unsigned int instr, cycles;
+
+    //enable mcycle csr
+    CSR_CLEAR_BITS(CSR_REG_MCOUNTINHIBIT, 0x1);
 
     CSR_WRITE(CSR_REG_MCYCLE, 0);
 
     //execute the kernel
     matrixAdd(m_a, m_b, m_c, N, M);
 
-    CSR_READ(CSR_REG_MCYCLE, &cycles) ;
-
-    //stop the HW counter used for monitoring
+    CSR_READ(CSR_REG_MCYCLE, &cycles);
 
     errors = check_results(m_c, N, M);
 
diff --git a/sw/applications/example_matfadd/main.c b/sw/applications/example_matfadd/main.c
index e9eac70f0..ab2191bdf 100644
--- a/sw/applications/example_matfadd/main.c
+++ b/sw/applications/example_matfadd/main.c
@@ -117,11 +117,14 @@ int main()
     int N = WIDTH;
     int M = HEIGHT;
     uint32_t errors = 0;
-    unsigned int instr, cycles, ldstall, jrstall, imstall;
+    unsigned int instr, cycles;
 
     //enable FP operations
     CSR_SET_BITS(CSR_REG_MSTATUS, (FS_INITIAL << 13));
 
+    //enable mcycle csr
+    CSR_CLEAR_BITS(CSR_REG_MCOUNTINHIBIT, 0x1);
+
     CSR_WRITE(CSR_REG_MCYCLE, 0);
 
     //execute the kernel