diff --git a/py/obj.c b/py/obj.c
index 0cff2f1a4b..9dc0cf4749 100644
--- a/py/obj.c
+++ b/py/obj.c
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ void mp_obj_print_helper(const mp_print_t *print, mp_obj_t o_in, mp_print_kind_t
     #ifdef RUN_BACKGROUND_TASKS
     RUN_BACKGROUND_TASKS;
     #endif
+    mp_handle_pending();
+
 #ifndef NDEBUG
     if (o_in == MP_OBJ_NULL) {
         mp_print_str(print, "(nil)");