diff --git a/locale/circuitpython.pot b/locale/circuitpython.pot
index c3f935348e..095e8424c5 100644
--- a/locale/circuitpython.pot
+++ b/locale/circuitpython.pot
@@ -1536,6 +1536,10 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "No timer available"
 msgstr ""
 
+#: shared-module/usb/core/Device.c
+msgid "No usb host port initialized"
+msgstr ""
+
 #: ports/nrf/common-hal/_bleio/__init__.c
 msgid "Nordic system firmware out of memory"
 msgstr ""
diff --git a/ports/raspberrypi/link.ld b/ports/raspberrypi/link.ld
index 0e584c94ac..0e0e7a3c5c 100644
--- a/ports/raspberrypi/link.ld
+++ b/ports/raspberrypi/link.ld
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ SECTIONS
     _ld_dtcm_data_flash_copy = LOADADDR(.dtcm_data);
     _ld_dtcm_data_size = SIZEOF(.dtcm_data);
 
-    .dtcm_bss :
+    .dtcm_bss (NOLOAD) :
     {
         . = ALIGN(4);
 
diff --git a/shared-module/usb/core/Device.c b/shared-module/usb/core/Device.c
index faed49e383..b8c4e4fcd1 100644
--- a/shared-module/usb/core/Device.c
+++ b/shared-module/usb/core/Device.c
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ void tuh_umount_cb(uint8_t dev_addr) {
 STATIC xfer_result_t _xfer_result;
 STATIC size_t _actual_len;
 bool common_hal_usb_core_device_construct(usb_core_device_obj_t *self, uint8_t device_number) {
+    if (!tuh_inited()) {
+        mp_raise_RuntimeError(translate("No usb host port initialized"));
+    }
+
     if (device_number == 0 || device_number > CFG_TUH_DEVICE_MAX + CFG_TUH_HUB) {
         return false;
     }