diff --git a/ports/esp32s2/common-hal/busio/I2C.c b/ports/esp32s2/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
index 8052715ae9..fd887c31ac 100644
--- a/ports/esp32s2/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
+++ b/ports/esp32s2/common-hal/busio/I2C.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ void common_hal_busio_i2c_construct(busio_i2c_obj_t *self,
     }
     #endif
 
-    self->xSemaphore = xSemaphoreCreateMutexStatic(&self->xSemaphoreBuffer);
+    self->xSemaphore = xSemaphoreCreateMutex();
     if (self->xSemaphore == NULL) {
         mp_raise_RuntimeError(translate("Unable to create lock"));
     }
diff --git a/ports/esp32s2/common-hal/busio/I2C.h b/ports/esp32s2/common-hal/busio/I2C.h
index d699b84ef1..0844be6b22 100644
--- a/ports/esp32s2/common-hal/busio/I2C.h
+++ b/ports/esp32s2/common-hal/busio/I2C.h
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ typedef struct {
     const mcu_pin_obj_t *sda_pin;
     i2c_port_t i2c_num;
     SemaphoreHandle_t xSemaphore;
-    StaticSemaphore_t xSemaphoreBuffer;
     bool has_lock;
 } busio_i2c_obj_t;