diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 979070ebe3..6cf524edbb 100755
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -338,6 +338,7 @@ STATIC bool run_code_py(safe_mode_t safe_mode) {
     #if CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED
     uint32_t color;
     uint8_t blink_count;
+    bool led_active = false;
     #if CIRCUITPY_ALARM
     if (result.return_code & PYEXEC_DEEP_SLEEP) {
         color = BLACK;
@@ -360,9 +361,6 @@ STATIC bool run_code_py(safe_mode_t safe_mode) {
     size_t single_blink_time = (OFF_ON_RATIO + 1) * BLINK_TIME_MS;
     size_t blink_time = single_blink_time * blink_count;
     size_t total_time = blink_time + LED_SLEEP_TIME_MS;
-    if (blink_count > 0) {
-        status_led_init();
-    }
     #endif
 
     #if CIRCUITPY_ALARM
@@ -432,7 +430,6 @@ STATIC bool run_code_py(safe_mode_t safe_mode) {
                 common_hal_alarm_pretending_deep_sleep();
             } else if (connecting_delay_ticks < 0) {
                 // Entering deep sleep (may be fake or real.)
-                new_status_color(BLACK);
                 board_deinit();
                 if (!supervisor_workflow_active()) {
                     // Enter true deep sleep. When we wake up we'll be back at the
@@ -469,15 +466,28 @@ STATIC bool run_code_py(safe_mode_t safe_mode) {
             if (tick_diff < blink_time) {
                 uint32_t blink_diff = tick_diff % (single_blink_time);
                 if (blink_diff >= BLINK_TIME_MS) {
-                    new_status_color(BLACK);
+                    if (led_active) {
+                        new_status_color(BLACK);
+                        status_led_deinit();
+                        led_active = false;
+                    }
                     time_to_next_change = single_blink_time - blink_diff;
                 } else {
-                    new_status_color(color);
+                    if (!led_active) {
+                        status_led_init();
+                        new_status_color(color);
+                        led_active = true;
+                    }
                     time_to_next_change = BLINK_TIME_MS - blink_diff;
                 }
             } else if (tick_diff > total_time) {
                 pattern_start = supervisor_ticks_ms32();
             } else {
+                if (led_active) {
+                    new_status_color(BLACK);
+                    status_led_deinit();
+                    led_active = false;
+                }
                 time_to_next_change = total_time - tick_diff;
             }
             #if CIRCUITPY_DISPLAYIO
@@ -495,8 +505,10 @@ STATIC bool run_code_py(safe_mode_t safe_mode) {
     }
     // Done waiting, start the board back up.
     #if CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED
-    new_status_color(BLACK);
-    status_led_deinit();
+    if (led_active) {
+        new_status_color(BLACK);
+        status_led_deinit();
+    }
     #endif
 
     #if CIRCUITPY_ALARM
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/feather_m4_can/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/feather_m4_can/mpconfigboard.h
index 20c4670e25..4cf4c57859 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/feather_m4_can/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/feather_m4_can/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -6,13 +6,14 @@
 // Rev E
 
 #define MICROPY_HW_LED_STATUS   (&pin_PA23)
-#define MICROPY_HW_NEOPIXEL (&pin_PB03)
+#define MICROPY_HW_NEOPIXEL (&pin_PB02)
+#define CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED_POWER (&pin_PB03)
 
 // These are pins not to reset.
 // QSPI Data pins
 #define MICROPY_PORT_A (PORT_PA08 | PORT_PA09 | PORT_PA10 | PORT_PA11)
 // QSPI CS, QSPI SCK and NeoPixel pin
-#define MICROPY_PORT_B (PORT_PB03 | PORT_PB10 | PORT_PB11)
+#define MICROPY_PORT_B (PORT_PB10 | PORT_PB11)
 #define MICROPY_PORT_C (0)
 #define MICROPY_PORT_D (0)
 
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0/board.c b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0/board.c
index 6b948a9a7a..84960e73cf 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0/board.c
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0/board.c
@@ -25,15 +25,8 @@
  */
 
 #include "supervisor/board.h"
-#include "common-hal/microcontroller/Pin.h"
-#include "supervisor/shared/board.h"
-#include "hal/include/hal_gpio.h"
 
 void board_init(void) {
-    gpio_set_pin_function(PIN_PA15, GPIO_PIN_FUNCTION_OFF);
-    gpio_set_pin_direction(PIN_PA15, GPIO_DIRECTION_OUT);
-    gpio_set_pin_level(PIN_PA15, true); // Turn on neopixel by default
-    never_reset_pin_number(PIN_PA15);
 }
 
 bool board_requests_safe_mode(void) {
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0/mpconfigboard.h
index 713d2c03eb..305a9b55f6 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define MICROPY_HW_MCU_NAME "samd21e18"
 
 #define MICROPY_HW_NEOPIXEL (&pin_PA18)
+#define CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED_POWER (&pin_PA15)
 
 #define MICROPY_PORT_A        (0)
 #define MICROPY_PORT_B        (0)
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0_haxpress/board.c b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0_haxpress/board.c
index 6b948a9a7a..84960e73cf 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0_haxpress/board.c
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0_haxpress/board.c
@@ -25,15 +25,8 @@
  */
 
 #include "supervisor/board.h"
-#include "common-hal/microcontroller/Pin.h"
-#include "supervisor/shared/board.h"
-#include "hal/include/hal_gpio.h"
 
 void board_init(void) {
-    gpio_set_pin_function(PIN_PA15, GPIO_PIN_FUNCTION_OFF);
-    gpio_set_pin_direction(PIN_PA15, GPIO_DIRECTION_OUT);
-    gpio_set_pin_level(PIN_PA15, true); // Turn on neopixel by default
-    never_reset_pin_number(PIN_PA15);
 }
 
 bool board_requests_safe_mode(void) {
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0_haxpress/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0_haxpress/mpconfigboard.h
index 4e557751fc..c3434e22f0 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0_haxpress/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/qtpy_m0_haxpress/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define MICROPY_HW_MCU_NAME "samd21e18"
 
 #define MICROPY_HW_NEOPIXEL (&pin_PA18)
+#define CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED_POWER (&pin_PA15)
 
 #define MICROPY_PORT_A        (0)
 #define MICROPY_PORT_B        (0)
diff --git a/ports/esp32s2/boards/adafruit_feather_esp32s2_nopsram/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/esp32s2/boards/adafruit_feather_esp32s2_nopsram/mpconfigboard.h
index a04065d25b..d2cd01a681 100644
--- a/ports/esp32s2/boards/adafruit_feather_esp32s2_nopsram/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/esp32s2/boards/adafruit_feather_esp32s2_nopsram/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #define MICROPY_HW_MCU_NAME         "ESP32S2"
 
 #define MICROPY_HW_NEOPIXEL (&pin_GPIO33)
+#define CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED_POWER (&pin_GPIO21)
 
 #define CIRCUITPY_BOOT_BUTTON (&pin_GPIO0)
 
diff --git a/ports/esp32s2/boards/adafruit_feather_esp32s2_tftback_nopsram/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/esp32s2/boards/adafruit_feather_esp32s2_tftback_nopsram/mpconfigboard.h
index a04065d25b..d2cd01a681 100644
--- a/ports/esp32s2/boards/adafruit_feather_esp32s2_tftback_nopsram/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/esp32s2/boards/adafruit_feather_esp32s2_tftback_nopsram/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #define MICROPY_HW_MCU_NAME         "ESP32S2"
 
 #define MICROPY_HW_NEOPIXEL (&pin_GPIO33)
+#define CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED_POWER (&pin_GPIO21)
 
 #define CIRCUITPY_BOOT_BUTTON (&pin_GPIO0)
 
diff --git a/ports/esp32s2/boards/adafruit_magtag_2.9_grayscale/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/esp32s2/boards/adafruit_magtag_2.9_grayscale/mpconfigboard.h
index 4d3e8c0972..b227fb01b3 100644
--- a/ports/esp32s2/boards/adafruit_magtag_2.9_grayscale/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/esp32s2/boards/adafruit_magtag_2.9_grayscale/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #define MICROPY_HW_MCU_NAME         "ESP32S2"
 
 #define MICROPY_HW_NEOPIXEL (&pin_GPIO1)
+#define CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED_POWER (&pin_GPIO21)
 
 #define CIRCUITPY_BOOT_BUTTON (&pin_GPIO0)
 
diff --git a/ports/esp32s2/boards/unexpectedmaker_tinys2/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/esp32s2/boards/unexpectedmaker_tinys2/mpconfigboard.h
index e7d50f0894..64ef084ccd 100644
--- a/ports/esp32s2/boards/unexpectedmaker_tinys2/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/esp32s2/boards/unexpectedmaker_tinys2/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #define MICROPY_HW_MCU_NAME         "ESP32S2"
 
 #define MICROPY_HW_NEOPIXEL (&pin_GPIO1)
+#define CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED_POWER (&pin_GPIO2)
 #define CIRCUITPY_BOOT_BUTTON (&pin_GPIO0)
 #define BOARD_USER_SAFE_MODE_ACTION translate("pressing boot button at start up.\n")
 
diff --git a/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_itsybitsy_rp2040/board.c b/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_itsybitsy_rp2040/board.c
index e05589883d..67486d4c23 100644
--- a/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_itsybitsy_rp2040/board.c
+++ b/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_itsybitsy_rp2040/board.c
@@ -26,14 +26,7 @@
 
 #include "supervisor/board.h"
 
-#include "shared-bindings/microcontroller/Pin.h"
-#include "src/rp2_common/hardware_gpio/include/hardware/gpio.h"
-
 void board_init(void) {
-    common_hal_never_reset_pin(&pin_GPIO16);
-    gpio_init(16);
-    gpio_set_dir(16, GPIO_OUT);
-    gpio_put(16, true);
 }
 
 bool board_requests_safe_mode(void) {
diff --git a/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_itsybitsy_rp2040/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_itsybitsy_rp2040/mpconfigboard.h
index dad4e2eae8..131ddc8cee 100644
--- a/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_itsybitsy_rp2040/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_itsybitsy_rp2040/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define MICROPY_HW_MCU_NAME "rp2040"
 
 #define MICROPY_HW_NEOPIXEL (&pin_GPIO17)
+#define CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED_POWER (&pin_GPIO16)
 
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SCL (&pin_GPIO3)
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SDA (&pin_GPIO2)
diff --git a/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_qtpy_rp2040/board.c b/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_qtpy_rp2040/board.c
index 332145ab84..67486d4c23 100644
--- a/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_qtpy_rp2040/board.c
+++ b/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_qtpy_rp2040/board.c
@@ -26,14 +26,7 @@
 
 #include "supervisor/board.h"
 
-#include "shared-bindings/microcontroller/Pin.h"
-#include "src/rp2_common/hardware_gpio/include/hardware/gpio.h"
-
 void board_init(void) {
-    common_hal_never_reset_pin(&pin_GPIO11);
-    gpio_init(11);
-    gpio_set_dir(11, GPIO_OUT);
-    gpio_put(11, true);
 }
 
 bool board_requests_safe_mode(void) {
diff --git a/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_qtpy_rp2040/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_qtpy_rp2040/mpconfigboard.h
index a1947deaeb..5d3795dd5d 100644
--- a/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_qtpy_rp2040/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/raspberrypi/boards/adafruit_qtpy_rp2040/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define MICROPY_HW_MCU_NAME "rp2040"
 
 #define MICROPY_HW_NEOPIXEL (&pin_GPIO12)
+#define CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED_POWER (&pin_GPIO11)
 
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SCL (&pin_GPIO25)
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SDA (&pin_GPIO24)
diff --git a/supervisor/shared/status_leds.c b/supervisor/shared/status_leds.c
index a367aa3086..386dba5387 100644
--- a/supervisor/shared/status_leds.c
+++ b/supervisor/shared/status_leds.c
@@ -31,6 +31,12 @@
 #include "supervisor/shared/tick.h"
 #include "py/obj.h"
 
+
+#ifdef CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED_POWER
+#include "shared-bindings/digitalio/DigitalInOut.h"
+static digitalio_digitalinout_obj_t _status_power;
+#endif
+
 #ifdef MICROPY_HW_NEOPIXEL
 uint8_t rgb_status_brightness = 63;
     #include "shared-bindings/digitalio/DigitalInOut.h"
@@ -116,6 +122,11 @@ void status_led_init() {
     }
     status_led_init_in_progress = true;
 
+    #ifdef CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED_POWER
+    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_construct(&_status_power, CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED_POWER);
+    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_switch_to_output(&_status_power, true, DRIVE_MODE_PUSH_PULL);
+    #endif
+
     #ifdef MICROPY_HW_NEOPIXEL
     common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_construct(&status_neopixel, MICROPY_HW_NEOPIXEL);
     common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_switch_to_output(&status_neopixel, false, DRIVE_MODE_PUSH_PULL);
@@ -212,6 +223,10 @@ void status_led_deinit() {
     #elif defined(MICROPY_HW_LED_STATUS)
     common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_deinit(&single_color_led);
     #endif
+
+    #ifdef CIRCUITPY_STATUS_LED_POWER
+    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_deinit(&_status_power);
+    #endif
 }
 
 void new_status_color(uint32_t rgb) {