diff --git a/esp8266/mpconfigport.h b/esp8266/mpconfigport.h
index 738a3020fc..744cc2d825 100644
--- a/esp8266/mpconfigport.h
+++ b/esp8266/mpconfigport.h
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@
 #define MICROPY_ERROR_REPORTING     (MICROPY_ERROR_REPORTING_TERSE)
 #define MICROPY_MODULE_FROZEN       (1)
 
+#define MICROPY_EVENT_POLL_HOOK {ets_event_poll();}
+
 // type definitions for the specific machine
 
 #define BYTES_PER_WORD (4)