Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to fabrication of a correlated electron material (CEM) switch. In particular embodiments, formation of a CEM switch may include removing of an exposed portion of a CEM film to form an exposed sidewall region bordering a remaining unexposed portion of the CEM film under or beneath a conductive overlay. The method may further include at least partially restoring properties of the exposed sidewall region to a CEM via exposure of the exposed sidewall region to one or more gaseous annealing agents.