diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 201022f1af..ce95de95f0 100755
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -101,8 +101,6 @@ void start_mp(supervisor_allocation* heap) {
     reset_status_led();
     autoreload_stop();
 
-    background_tasks_reset();
-
     // Stack limit should be less than real stack size, so we have a chance
     // to recover from limit hit.  (Limit is measured in bytes.)
     mp_stack_ctrl_init();
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/background.c b/ports/atmel-samd/background.c
index 5c499ab3a8..62c233a3f8 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/background.c
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/background.c
@@ -39,59 +39,21 @@
 #include "shared-module/displayio/__init__.h"
 #endif
 
-volatile uint64_t last_finished_tick = 0;
-
-bool stack_ok_so_far = true;
-
-static bool running_background_tasks = false;
-
 #ifdef MONITOR_BACKGROUND_TASKS
 // PB03 is physical pin "SCL" on the Metro M4 express
 // so you can't use this code AND an i2c peripheral
 // at the same time unless you change this
-STATIC void start_background_task(void) {
+void port_start_background_task(void) {
     REG_PORT_DIRSET1 = (1<<3);
     REG_PORT_OUTSET1 = (1<<3);
 }
 
-STATIC void finish_background_task(void) {
+void port_finish_background_task(void) {
     REG_PORT_OUTCLR1 = (1<<3);
 }
 #else
-STATIC void start_background_task(void) {}
-STATIC void finish_background_task(void) {}
+void port_start_background_task(void) {}
+void port_finish_background_task(void) {}
 #endif
 
-void background_tasks_reset(void) {
-    running_background_tasks = false;
-}
-
-void run_background_tasks(void) {
-    // Don't call ourselves recursively.
-    if (running_background_tasks) {
-        return;
-    }
-
-    start_background_task();
-
-    assert_heap_ok();
-    running_background_tasks = true;
-
-    #if CIRCUITPY_DISPLAYIO
-    displayio_background();
-    #endif
-
-    #if CIRCUITPY_NETWORK
-    network_module_background();
-    #endif
-    filesystem_background();
-    running_background_tasks = false;
-    assert_heap_ok();
-
-    last_finished_tick = port_get_raw_ticks(NULL);
-    finish_background_task();
-}
-
-bool background_tasks_ok(void) {
-    return port_get_raw_ticks(NULL) - last_finished_tick < 1024;
-}
+void port_background_task(void) {}
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/background.h b/ports/atmel-samd/background.h
index d9866a6abc..2a89c3b1b8 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/background.h
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/background.h
@@ -29,9 +29,4 @@
 
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
-void background_tasks_reset(void);
-void run_background_tasks(void);
-void run_background_vm_tasks(void);
-bool background_tasks_ok(void);
-
 #endif  // MICROPY_INCLUDED_ATMEL_SAMD_BACKGROUND_H
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/common-hal/frequencyio/FrequencyIn.c b/ports/atmel-samd/common-hal/frequencyio/FrequencyIn.c
index 1952df5637..02d0482dca 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/common-hal/frequencyio/FrequencyIn.c
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/common-hal/frequencyio/FrequencyIn.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 #include "hpl_gclk_config.h"
 
 #include "shared-bindings/time/__init__.h"
+#include "supervisor/shared/tick.h"
 #include "supervisor/shared/translate.h"
 
 #ifdef SAMD21
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@ void frequencyin_interrupt_handler(uint8_t index) {
             }
 
             // Check if we've reached the upper limit of detection
-            if (!background_tasks_ok() || self->errored_too_fast) {
+            if (!supervisor_background_tasks_ok() || self->errored_too_fast) {
                 self->errored_too_fast = true;
                 frequencyin_emergency_cancel_capture(i);
             }
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/common-hal/pulseio/PulseIn.c b/ports/atmel-samd/common-hal/pulseio/PulseIn.c
index b825579dbe..ae58b089de 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/common-hal/pulseio/PulseIn.c
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/common-hal/pulseio/PulseIn.c
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #include "samd/timers.h"
 #include "shared-bindings/microcontroller/__init__.h"
 #include "shared-bindings/pulseio/PulseIn.h"
+#include "supervisor/shared/tick.h"
 #include "supervisor/shared/translate.h"
 
 // This timer is shared amongst all PulseIn objects as a higher resolution clock.
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ void pulsein_interrupt_handler(uint8_t channel) {
     uint32_t current_count = tc->COUNT16.COUNT.reg;
 
     pulseio_pulsein_obj_t* self = get_eic_channel_data(channel);
-    if (!background_tasks_ok() || self->errored_too_fast) {
+    if (!supervisor_background_tasks_ok() || self->errored_too_fast) {
         self->errored_too_fast = true;
         common_hal_pulseio_pulsein_pause(self);
         return;
diff --git a/ports/cxd56/background.c b/ports/cxd56/background.c
index ade257dd24..6de6d7275b 100644
--- a/ports/cxd56/background.c
+++ b/ports/cxd56/background.c
@@ -30,24 +30,6 @@
 #include "supervisor/filesystem.h"
 #include "supervisor/shared/stack.h"
 
-static bool running_background_tasks = false;
-
-void background_tasks_reset(void) {
-    running_background_tasks = false;
-}
-
-void run_background_tasks(void) {
-    // Don't call ourselves recursively.
-    if (running_background_tasks) {
-        return;
-    }
-
-    assert_heap_ok();
-    running_background_tasks = true;
-
-    usb_background();
-    filesystem_background();
-
-    running_background_tasks = false;
-    assert_heap_ok();
-}
+void port_background_task(void) {}
+void port_start_background_task(void) {}
+void port_finish_background_task(void) {}
diff --git a/ports/cxd56/background.h b/ports/cxd56/background.h
index a38e3faed4..5f76e64429 100644
--- a/ports/cxd56/background.h
+++ b/ports/cxd56/background.h
@@ -27,7 +27,4 @@
 #ifndef MICROPY_INCLUDED_CXD56_BACKGROUND_H
 #define MICROPY_INCLUDED_CXD56_BACKGROUND_H
 
-void background_tasks_reset(void);
-void run_background_tasks(void);
-
 #endif  // MICROPY_INCLUDED_CXD56_BACKGROUND_H
diff --git a/ports/esp32s2/background.c b/ports/esp32s2/background.c
index a90fa7d0aa..40ce9ecfdf 100644
--- a/ports/esp32s2/background.c
+++ b/ports/esp32s2/background.c
@@ -35,27 +35,12 @@
 #include "shared-module/displayio/__init__.h"
 #endif
 
-static bool running_background_tasks = false;
-
-void background_tasks_reset(void) {
-    running_background_tasks = false;
-}
-
-void run_background_tasks(void) {
-    // Don't call ourselves recursively.
-    if (running_background_tasks) {
-        return;
-    }
 
+void port_background_task(void) {
     // Zero delay in case FreeRTOS wants to switch to something else.
     vTaskDelay(0);
-    running_background_tasks = true;
-    filesystem_background();
-
-    #if CIRCUITPY_DISPLAYIO
-    displayio_background();
-    #endif
-    running_background_tasks = false;
-
-    assert_heap_ok();
 }
+
+void port_start_background_task(void) {}
+
+void port_finish_background_task(void) {}
diff --git a/ports/esp32s2/background.h b/ports/esp32s2/background.h
index 0e1fb7a568..cb850d4e5a 100644
--- a/ports/esp32s2/background.h
+++ b/ports/esp32s2/background.h
@@ -29,7 +29,4 @@
 
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
-void background_tasks_reset(void);
-void run_background_tasks(void);
-
 #endif  // MICROPY_INCLUDED_ESP32S2_BACKGROUND_H
diff --git a/ports/litex/background.c b/ports/litex/background.c
index 8c18970434..174d9588ac 100644
--- a/ports/litex/background.c
+++ b/ports/litex/background.c
@@ -29,32 +29,6 @@
 #include "supervisor/usb.h"
 #include "supervisor/shared/stack.h"
 
-#if CIRCUITPY_DISPLAYIO
-#include "shared-module/displayio/__init__.h"
-#endif
-
-static bool running_background_tasks = false;
-
-void background_tasks_reset(void) {
-    running_background_tasks = false;
-}
-
-void run_background_tasks(void) {
-    // Don't call ourselves recursively.
-    if (running_background_tasks) {
-        return;
-    }
-    running_background_tasks = true;
-    filesystem_background();
-
-    #if USB_AVAILABLE
-    usb_background();
-    #endif
-
-    #if CIRCUITPY_DISPLAYIO
-    displayio_background();
-    #endif
-    running_background_tasks = false;
-
-    assert_heap_ok();
-}
+void port_background_task(void) {}
+void port_start_background_task(void) {}
+void port_finish_background_task(void) {}
diff --git a/ports/litex/background.h b/ports/litex/background.h
index 09551c7fbb..c80fbbe5cb 100644
--- a/ports/litex/background.h
+++ b/ports/litex/background.h
@@ -27,9 +27,4 @@
 #ifndef MICROPY_INCLUDED_LITEX_BACKGROUND_H
 #define MICROPY_INCLUDED_LITEX_BACKGROUND_H
 
-#include <stdbool.h>
-
-void background_tasks_reset(void);
-void run_background_tasks(void);
-
 #endif  // MICROPY_INCLUDED_LITEX_BACKGROUND_H
diff --git a/ports/mimxrt10xx/background.c b/ports/mimxrt10xx/background.c
index ff53ea44f4..a8a613d41a 100644
--- a/ports/mimxrt10xx/background.c
+++ b/ports/mimxrt10xx/background.c
@@ -24,58 +24,13 @@
  * OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
  * THE SOFTWARE.
  */
-#include "background.h"
 
-//#include "audio_dma.h"
-#include "supervisor/filesystem.h"
-#include "supervisor/shared/tick.h"
-#include "supervisor/usb.h"
-
-#include "py/runtime.h"
-#include "shared-module/network/__init__.h"
-#include "supervisor/linker.h"
-#include "supervisor/shared/stack.h"
-
-#ifdef CIRCUITPY_DISPLAYIO
-#include "shared-module/displayio/__init__.h"
-#endif
-
-volatile uint64_t last_finished_tick = 0;
-
-bool stack_ok_so_far = true;
-
-static bool running_background_tasks = false;
-
-void background_tasks_reset(void) {
-    running_background_tasks = false;
-}
-
-void PLACE_IN_ITCM(run_background_tasks)(void) {
-    // Don't call ourselves recursively.
-    if (running_background_tasks) {
-        return;
-    }
-    assert_heap_ok();
-    running_background_tasks = true;
+#include "supervisor/port.h"
 
+void port_background_task(void) {
     #if CIRCUITPY_AUDIOIO || CIRCUITPY_AUDIOBUSIO
     audio_dma_background();
     #endif
-    #if CIRCUITPY_DISPLAYIO
-    displayio_background();
-    #endif
-
-    #if CIRCUITPY_NETWORK
-    network_module_background();
-    #endif
-    filesystem_background();
-    usb_background();
-    running_background_tasks = false;
-    assert_heap_ok();
-
-    last_finished_tick = supervisor_ticks_ms64();
-}
-
-bool background_tasks_ok(void) {
-    return supervisor_ticks_ms64() - last_finished_tick < 1000;
 }
+void port_start_background_task(void) {}
+void port_finish_background_task(void) {}
diff --git a/ports/mimxrt10xx/background.h b/ports/mimxrt10xx/background.h
index 52789d0389..a3fe102acc 100644
--- a/ports/mimxrt10xx/background.h
+++ b/ports/mimxrt10xx/background.h
@@ -28,11 +28,4 @@
 #ifndef MICROPY_INCLUDED_MIMXRT10XX_BACKGROUND_H
 #define MICROPY_INCLUDED_MIMXRT10XX_BACKGROUND_H
 
-#include <stdbool.h>
-
-void background_tasks_reset(void);
-void run_background_tasks(void);
-void run_background_vm_tasks(void);
-bool background_tasks_ok(void);
-
 #endif  // MICROPY_INCLUDED_MIMXRT10XX_BACKGROUND_H
diff --git a/ports/mimxrt10xx/common-hal/pulseio/PulseIn.c b/ports/mimxrt10xx/common-hal/pulseio/PulseIn.c
index d8bf2017ea..ec02908612 100644
--- a/ports/mimxrt10xx/common-hal/pulseio/PulseIn.c
+++ b/ports/mimxrt10xx/common-hal/pulseio/PulseIn.c
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
 //    // last ms.
 //    current_us = 1000 - current_us;
 //    pulseio_pulsein_obj_t* self = get_eic_channel_data(channel);
-//    if (!background_tasks_ok() || self->errored_too_fast) {
+//    if (!supervisor_background_tasks_ok() || self->errored_too_fast) {
 //        self->errored_too_fast = true;
 //        common_hal_pulseio_pulsein_pause(self);
 //        return;
diff --git a/ports/nrf/background.c b/ports/nrf/background.c
index bc7c0d7d32..10543ddb21 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/background.c
+++ b/ports/nrf/background.c
@@ -46,35 +46,14 @@
 #include "common-hal/_bleio/bonding.h"
 #endif
 
-static bool running_background_tasks = false;
+void port_start_background_task(void) {}
+void port_finish_background_task(void) {}
 
-void background_tasks_reset(void) {
-    running_background_tasks = false;
-}
-
-void run_background_tasks(void) {
-    // Don't call ourselves recursively.
-    if (running_background_tasks) {
-        return;
-    }
-    running_background_tasks = true;
-    filesystem_background();
+void port_background_task(void) {
 #if CIRCUITPY_AUDIOPWMIO
     audiopwmout_background();
 #endif
 #if CIRCUITPY_AUDIOBUSIO
     i2s_background();
 #endif
-
-#if CIRCUITPY_BLEIO
-    supervisor_bluetooth_background();
-    bonding_background();
-#endif
-
-    #if CIRCUITPY_DISPLAYIO
-    displayio_background();
-    #endif
-    running_background_tasks = false;
-
-    assert_heap_ok();
 }
diff --git a/ports/nrf/background.h b/ports/nrf/background.h
index d53681c0fd..64a768cf9b 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/background.h
+++ b/ports/nrf/background.h
@@ -27,9 +27,4 @@
 #ifndef MICROPY_INCLUDED_NRF_BACKGROUND_H
 #define MICROPY_INCLUDED_NRF_BACKGROUND_H
 
-#include <stdbool.h>
-
-void background_tasks_reset(void);
-void run_background_tasks(void);
-
 #endif  // MICROPY_INCLUDED_NRF_BACKGROUND_H
diff --git a/ports/stm/background.c b/ports/stm/background.c
index 8c18970434..d83a0ccec7 100644
--- a/ports/stm/background.c
+++ b/ports/stm/background.c
@@ -33,28 +33,6 @@
 #include "shared-module/displayio/__init__.h"
 #endif
 
-static bool running_background_tasks = false;
-
-void background_tasks_reset(void) {
-    running_background_tasks = false;
-}
-
-void run_background_tasks(void) {
-    // Don't call ourselves recursively.
-    if (running_background_tasks) {
-        return;
-    }
-    running_background_tasks = true;
-    filesystem_background();
-
-    #if USB_AVAILABLE
-    usb_background();
-    #endif
-
-    #if CIRCUITPY_DISPLAYIO
-    displayio_background();
-    #endif
-    running_background_tasks = false;
-
-    assert_heap_ok();
-}
+void port_background_task(void) {}
+void port_start_background_task(void) {}
+void port_finish_background_task(void) {}
diff --git a/ports/stm/background.h b/ports/stm/background.h
index 6225429f89..e57aa40dd7 100644
--- a/ports/stm/background.h
+++ b/ports/stm/background.h
@@ -27,9 +27,4 @@
 #ifndef MICROPY_INCLUDED_STM32_BACKGROUND_H
 #define MICROPY_INCLUDED_STM32_BACKGROUND_H
 
-#include <stdbool.h>
-
-void background_tasks_reset(void);
-void run_background_tasks(void);
-
 #endif  // MICROPY_INCLUDED_STM32_BACKGROUND_H
diff --git a/supervisor/port.h b/supervisor/port.h
index 8a12d34c8a..ad5b3cf32a 100644
--- a/supervisor/port.h
+++ b/supervisor/port.h
@@ -91,4 +91,12 @@ void port_interrupt_after_ticks(uint32_t ticks);
 // Sleep the CPU until an interrupt is received.
 void port_sleep_until_interrupt(void);
 
+// Execute port specific actions during background tasks.
+void port_background_task(void);
+
+// Take port specific actions at the beginning and end of background tasks.
+// This is used e.g., to set a monitoring pin for debug purposes.  "Actual
+// work" should be done in port_background_task() instead.
+void port_start_background_task(void);
+void port_finish_background_task(void);
 #endif  // MICROPY_INCLUDED_SUPERVISOR_PORT_H
diff --git a/supervisor/shared/tick.c b/supervisor/shared/tick.c
index 46172d0f30..bc270030f3 100644
--- a/supervisor/shared/tick.c
+++ b/supervisor/shared/tick.c
@@ -32,8 +32,16 @@
 #include "supervisor/background_callback.h"
 #include "supervisor/port.h"
 #include "supervisor/shared/autoreload.h"
+#include "supervisor/shared/stack.h"
 
-static volatile uint64_t PLACE_IN_DTCM_BSS(background_ticks);
+#if CIRCUITPY_BLEIO
+#include "supervisor/shared/bluetooth.h"
+#include "common-hal/_bleio/bonding.h"
+#endif
+
+#if CIRCUITPY_DISPLAYIO
+#include "shared-module/displayio/__init__.h"
+#endif
 
 #if CIRCUITPY_GAMEPAD
 #include "shared-module/gamepad/__init__.h"
@@ -43,6 +51,10 @@ static volatile uint64_t PLACE_IN_DTCM_BSS(background_ticks);
 #include "shared-module/gamepadshift/__init__.h"
 #endif
 
+#if CIRCUITPY_NETWORK
+#include "shared-module/network/__init__.h"
+#endif
+
 #include "shared-bindings/microcontroller/__init__.h"
 
 #if CIRCUITPY_WATCHDOG
@@ -52,12 +64,42 @@ static volatile uint64_t PLACE_IN_DTCM_BSS(background_ticks);
 #define WATCHDOG_EXCEPTION_CHECK() 0
 #endif
 
+static volatile uint64_t PLACE_IN_DTCM_BSS(background_ticks);
+
 static background_callback_t callback;
 
-extern void run_background_tasks(void);
+volatile uint64_t last_finished_tick = 0;
 
-void background_task_tick(void *unused) {
-    run_background_tasks();
+void supervisor_background_tasks(void *unused) {
+    port_start_background_task();
+
+    assert_heap_ok();
+
+    #if CIRCUITPY_DISPLAYIO
+    displayio_background();
+    #endif
+
+    #if CIRCUITPY_NETWORK
+    network_module_background();
+    #endif
+    filesystem_background();
+
+    #if CIRCUITPY_BLEIO
+    supervisor_bluetooth_background();
+    bonding_background();
+    #endif
+
+    port_background_task();
+
+    assert_heap_ok();
+
+    last_finished_tick = port_get_raw_ticks(NULL);
+
+    port_finish_background_task();
+}
+
+bool supervisor_background_tasks_ok(void) {
+    return port_get_raw_ticks(NULL) - last_finished_tick < 1024;
 }
 
 void supervisor_tick(void) {
@@ -77,7 +119,7 @@ void supervisor_tick(void) {
         #endif
     }
 #endif
-    background_callback_add(&callback, background_task_tick, NULL);
+    background_callback_add(&callback, supervisor_background_tasks, NULL);
 }
 
 uint64_t supervisor_ticks_ms64() {
diff --git a/supervisor/shared/tick.h b/supervisor/shared/tick.h
index e7e8080581..3a01bd6222 100644
--- a/supervisor/shared/tick.h
+++ b/supervisor/shared/tick.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #define __INCLUDED_SUPERVISOR_TICK_H
 
 #include <stdint.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
 
 /** @brief To be called once every ms
  *
@@ -36,13 +37,6 @@
  * interrupt context.
  */
 extern void supervisor_tick(void);
-/** @brief Cause background tasks to be called soon
- *
- * Normally, background tasks are only run once per tick.  For other cases where
- * an event noticed from an interrupt context needs to be completed by a background
- * task activity, the interrupt can call supervisor_fake_tick.
- */
-extern void supervisor_fake_tick(void);
 /** @brief Get the lower 32 bits of the time in milliseconds
  *
  * This can be more efficient than supervisor_ticks_ms64, for sites where a wraparound
@@ -67,4 +61,12 @@ extern void supervisor_run_background_if_tick(void);
 extern void supervisor_enable_tick(void);
 extern void supervisor_disable_tick(void);
 
+/**
+ * @brief Return true if tick-based background tasks ran within the last 1s
+ *
+ * Note that when ticks are not enabled, this function can return false; this is
+ * intended.
+ */
+extern bool supervisor_background_tasks_ok(void);
+
 #endif