diff --git a/ports/esp32/machine_uart.c b/ports/esp32/machine_uart.c
index 4cfa31b71d..8e6e5788d0 100644
--- a/ports/esp32/machine_uart.c
+++ b/ports/esp32/machine_uart.c
@@ -319,6 +319,10 @@ STATIC mp_obj_t machine_uart_make_new(const mp_obj_type_t *type, size_t n_args,
         .flow_ctrl = UART_HW_FLOWCTRL_DISABLE,
         .rx_flow_ctrl_thresh = 0
     };
+    #if SOC_UART_SUPPORT_XTAL_CLK
+    // works independently of APB frequency
+    uartcfg.source_clk = UART_SCLK_XTAL; // ESP32C3, ESP32S3
+    #endif
 
     // create instance
     machine_uart_obj_t *self = mp_obj_malloc(machine_uart_obj_t, &machine_uart_type);
diff --git a/ports/esp32/uart.c b/ports/esp32/uart.c
index f6493dc796..e871ca1d7a 100644
--- a/ports/esp32/uart.c
+++ b/ports/esp32/uart.c
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ void uart_stdout_init(void) {
         .flow_ctrl = UART_HW_FLOWCTRL_DISABLE,
         .rx_flow_ctrl_thresh = 0
     };
+    #if SOC_UART_SUPPORT_XTAL_CLK
+    // works independently of APB frequency
+    uartcfg.source_clk = UART_SCLK_XTAL; // ESP32C3, ESP32S3
+    #endif
     uart_param_config(MICROPY_HW_UART_REPL, &uartcfg);
 
     const uint32_t rxbuf = 129; // IDF requires > 128 min