diff --git a/ports/espressif/common-hal/busio/SPI.c b/ports/espressif/common-hal/busio/SPI.c
index 659aa52f5b..68d4e1d72b 100644
--- a/ports/espressif/common-hal/busio/SPI.c
+++ b/ports/espressif/common-hal/busio/SPI.c
@@ -262,10 +262,9 @@ bool common_hal_busio_spi_transfer(busio_spi_obj_t *self,
 
             for (int i = 0; i < cur_trans; i++) {
                 spi_device_queue_trans(spi_handle[self->host_id], &transactions[i], portMAX_DELAY);
+                RUN_BACKGROUND_TASKS;
             }
 
-            RUN_BACKGROUND_TASKS;
-
             spi_transaction_t *rtrans;
             for (int x = 0; x < cur_trans; x++) {
                 spi_device_get_trans_result(spi_handle[self->host_id], &rtrans, portMAX_DELAY);