diff --git a/esp8266/esp_mphal.c b/esp8266/esp_mphal.c
index 2f813ca22f..4427c44976 100644
--- a/esp8266/esp_mphal.c
+++ b/esp8266/esp_mphal.c
@@ -185,12 +185,9 @@ static int call_dupterm_read(void) {
         nlr_pop();
         return *(byte*)bufinfo.buf;
     } else {
-        // Temporarily disable dupterm to avoid infinite recursion
-        mp_obj_t save_term = MP_STATE_PORT(term_obj);
         MP_STATE_PORT(term_obj) = NULL;
-        mp_printf(&mp_plat_print, "dupterm: ");
+        mp_printf(&mp_plat_print, "dupterm: Exception in read() method, deactivating: ");
         mp_obj_print_exception(&mp_plat_print, nlr.ret_val);
-        MP_STATE_PORT(term_obj) = save_term;
     }
 
     return -1;