diff --git a/src/flash/nor/stm32f1x.c b/src/flash/nor/stm32f1x.c
index baf6b2752..f077fe548 100644
--- a/src/flash/nor/stm32f1x.c
+++ b/src/flash/nor/stm32f1x.c
@@ -249,6 +249,14 @@ static int stm32x_erase_options(struct flash_bank *bank)
 
 	stm32x_info = bank->driver_priv;
 
+	/* stlink is currently does not support 16bit
+	 * read/writes. so we cannot write option bytes */
+	struct armv7m_common *armv7m = target_to_armv7m(target);
+	if (armv7m && armv7m->stlink) {
+		LOG_ERROR("Option bytes currently unsupported for stlink");
+		return ERROR_FAIL;
+	}
+
 	/* read current options */
 	stm32x_read_options(bank);