diff --git a/stmhal/main.c b/stmhal/main.c
index 6140a06a8a..78afe54ef6 100644
--- a/stmhal/main.c
+++ b/stmhal/main.c
@@ -438,7 +438,6 @@ soft_reset:
     mp_obj_list_append(mp_sys_path, MP_OBJ_NEW_QSTR(MP_QSTR__slash_flash));
     mp_obj_list_append(mp_sys_path, MP_OBJ_NEW_QSTR(MP_QSTR__slash_flash_slash_lib));
     mp_obj_list_init(mp_sys_argv, 0);
-    MP_STATE_PORT(mp_kbd_exception) = mp_obj_new_exception(&mp_type_KeyboardInterrupt);
 
     // Initialise low-level sub-systems.  Here we need to very basic things like
     // zeroing out memory and resetting any of the sub-systems.  Following this
diff --git a/stmhal/mpconfigport.h b/stmhal/mpconfigport.h
index 203d41472b..cf1bb6abe0 100644
--- a/stmhal/mpconfigport.h
+++ b/stmhal/mpconfigport.h
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #define MICROPY_ENABLE_GC           (1)
 #define MICROPY_ENABLE_FINALISER    (1)
 #define MICROPY_STACK_CHECK         (1)
+#define MICROPY_KBD_EXCEPTION       (1)
 #define MICROPY_HELPER_REPL         (1)
 #define MICROPY_REPL_EMACS_KEYS     (1)
 #define MICROPY_REPL_AUTO_INDENT    (1)
@@ -208,7 +209,6 @@ extern const struct _mp_obj_module_t mp_module_network;
 #define MICROPY_PORT_ROOT_POINTERS \
     const char *readline_hist[8]; \
     \
-    mp_obj_t mp_kbd_exception; \
     mp_obj_t pyb_hid_report_desc; \
     \
     mp_obj_t pyb_config_main; \
diff --git a/stmhal/usb.c b/stmhal/usb.c
index c6303befb1..95da04aba7 100644
--- a/stmhal/usb.c
+++ b/stmhal/usb.c
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ bool usb_vcp_is_enabled(void) {
 void usb_vcp_set_interrupt_char(int c) {
     if (pyb_usb_flags & PYB_USB_FLAG_DEV_ENABLED) {
         if (c != -1) {
-            mp_obj_exception_clear_traceback(MP_STATE_PORT(mp_kbd_exception));
+            mp_obj_exception_clear_traceback(MP_OBJ_FROM_PTR(&MP_STATE_VM(mp_kbd_exception)));
         }
         USBD_CDC_SetInterrupt(c);
     }
diff --git a/stmhal/usbd_cdc_interface.c b/stmhal/usbd_cdc_interface.c
index 12aa38470c..1f46b9dcc1 100644
--- a/stmhal/usbd_cdc_interface.c
+++ b/stmhal/usbd_cdc_interface.c
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ static int8_t CDC_Itf_Receive(uint8_t* Buf, uint32_t *Len) {
             if (*src == user_interrupt_char) {
                 char_found = true;
                 // raise exception when interrupts are finished
-                pendsv_nlr_jump(MP_STATE_PORT(mp_kbd_exception));
+                pendsv_nlr_jump(&MP_STATE_VM(mp_kbd_exception));
             } else {
                 if (char_found) {
                     *dest = *src;