diff --git a/ports/esp8266/modmachine.c b/ports/esp8266/modmachine.c
index e6be0c1af7..bb7a780a35 100644
--- a/ports/esp8266/modmachine.c
+++ b/ports/esp8266/modmachine.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
 #include "py/obj.h"
 #include "py/runtime.h"
+#include "lib/utils/pyexec.h"
 
 // This needs to be set before we include the RTOS headers
 #define USE_US_TIMER 1
@@ -77,6 +78,12 @@ STATIC mp_obj_t machine_reset(void) {
 }
 STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_0(machine_reset_obj, machine_reset);
 
+STATIC mp_obj_t machine_soft_reset(void) {
+    pyexec_system_exit = PYEXEC_FORCED_EXIT;
+    mp_raise_type(&mp_type_SystemExit);
+}
+STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_0(machine_soft_reset_obj, machine_soft_reset);
+
 STATIC mp_obj_t machine_reset_cause(void) {
     return MP_OBJ_NEW_SMALL_INT(system_get_rst_info()->reason);
 }
@@ -392,6 +399,7 @@ STATIC const mp_rom_map_elem_t machine_module_globals_table[] = {
 
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_freq), MP_ROM_PTR(&machine_freq_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_reset), MP_ROM_PTR(&machine_reset_obj) },
+    { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_soft_reset), MP_ROM_PTR(&machine_soft_reset_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_reset_cause), MP_ROM_PTR(&machine_reset_cause_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_unique_id), MP_ROM_PTR(&machine_unique_id_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_idle), MP_ROM_PTR(&machine_idle_obj) },