diff --git a/ports/mimxrt10xx/common-hal/busio/I2C.c b/ports/mimxrt10xx/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
index 0bb7dcc6c6..cad0fef982 100644
--- a/ports/mimxrt10xx/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
+++ b/ports/mimxrt10xx/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ void common_hal_busio_i2c_construct(busio_i2c_obj_t *self,
     }
 
     if(self->sda_pin == NULL || self->scl_pin == NULL) {
-        mp_raise_RuntimeError(translate("Invalid I2C pin selection"));
+        mp_raise_ValueError(translate("Invalid I2C pin selection"));
     } else {
         self->i2c = mcu_i2c_banks[self->sda_pin->bank_idx - 1];
     }