diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/common-hal/busio/I2C.c b/ports/atmel-samd/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
index b0e5714a79..ffe74a2743 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ void common_hal_busio_i2c_construct(busio_i2c_obj_t *self,
         mp_raise_ValueError(translate("Invalid pins"));
     }
 
+#if CIRCUITPY_REQUIRE_I2C_PULLUPS
     // Test that the pins are in a high state. (Hopefully indicating they are pulled up.)
     gpio_set_pin_function(sda->number, GPIO_PIN_FUNCTION_OFF);
     gpio_set_pin_function(scl->number, GPIO_PIN_FUNCTION_OFF);
@@ -98,6 +99,8 @@ void common_hal_busio_i2c_construct(busio_i2c_obj_t *self,
         reset_pin_number(scl->number);
         mp_raise_RuntimeError(translate("SDA or SCL needs a pull up"));
     }
+#endif
+
     gpio_set_pin_function(sda->number, sda_pinmux);
     gpio_set_pin_function(scl->number, scl_pinmux);
 
diff --git a/ports/mimxrt10xx/common-hal/busio/I2C.c b/ports/mimxrt10xx/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
index 3c555df451..2de996f9a0 100644
--- a/ports/mimxrt10xx/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
+++ b/ports/mimxrt10xx/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
@@ -98,11 +98,13 @@ void common_hal_busio_i2c_construct(busio_i2c_obj_t *self,
 
     LPI2C_MasterInit(self->i2c, &config, I2C_CLOCK_FREQ);
 
+#if CIRCUITPY_REQUIRE_I2C_PULLUPS
 //    if (!gpio_get_pin_level(sda->number) || !gpio_get_pin_level(scl->number)) {
 //        reset_pin_number(sda->number);
 //        reset_pin_number(scl->number);
 //        mp_raise_RuntimeError(translate("SDA or SCL needs a pull up"));
 //    }
+#endif
 
     claim_pin(self->sda_pin->pin);
     claim_pin(self->scl_pin->pin);
diff --git a/ports/nrf/common-hal/busio/I2C.c b/ports/nrf/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
index f6f686cdfe..219fbf4470 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
+++ b/ports/nrf/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ void common_hal_busio_i2c_construct(busio_i2c_obj_t *self, const mcu_pin_obj_t *
         mp_raise_ValueError(translate("All I2C peripherals are in use"));
     }
 
+#if CIRCUITPY_REQUIRE_I2C_PULLUPS
     // Test that the pins are in a high state. (Hopefully indicating they are pulled up.)
     nrf_gpio_cfg_input(scl->number, NRF_GPIO_PIN_PULLDOWN);
     nrf_gpio_cfg_input(sda->number, NRF_GPIO_PIN_PULLDOWN);
@@ -132,6 +133,7 @@ void common_hal_busio_i2c_construct(busio_i2c_obj_t *self, const mcu_pin_obj_t *
         reset_pin_number(scl->number);
         mp_raise_RuntimeError(translate("SDA or SCL needs a pull up"));
     }
+#endif
 
     nrfx_twim_config_t config = NRFX_TWIM_DEFAULT_CONFIG(scl->number, sda->number);
 
diff --git a/py/circuitpy_mpconfig.mk b/py/circuitpy_mpconfig.mk
index a464583f32..93175e136f 100644
--- a/py/circuitpy_mpconfig.mk
+++ b/py/circuitpy_mpconfig.mk
@@ -310,6 +310,13 @@ CIRCUITPY_BITBANG_APA102 = 0
 endif
 CFLAGS += -DCIRCUITPY_BITBANG_APA102=$(CIRCUITPY_BITBANG_APA102)
 
+# Should busio.I2C() check for pullups?
+# Some boards in combination with certain peripherals may not want this.
+ifndef CIRCUITPY_REQUIRE_I2C_PULLUPS
+CIRCUITPY_REQUIRE_I2C_PULLUPS = 1
+endif
+CFLAGS += -DCIRCUITPY_REQUIRE_I2C_PULLUPS=$(CIRCUITPY_REQUIRE_I2C_PULLUPS)
+
 # REPL over BLE
 ifndef CIRCUITPY_SERIAL_BLE
 CIRCUITPY_SERIAL_BLE = 0