diff --git a/extmod/modbluetooth.h b/extmod/modbluetooth.h
index 1b1318dec5..9db3bed6cd 100644
--- a/extmod/modbluetooth.h
+++ b/extmod/modbluetooth.h
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@
 #endif
 
 // Common constants.
+#ifndef MP_BLUETOOTH_MAX_ATTR_SIZE
 #define MP_BLUETOOTH_MAX_ATTR_SIZE (20)
+#endif
 
 // Advertisement packet lengths
 #define MP_BLUETOOTH_GAP_ADV_MAX_LEN (32)
diff --git a/extmod/modbluetooth_nimble.c b/extmod/modbluetooth_nimble.c
index 21d71e3c96..959360cee7 100644
--- a/extmod/modbluetooth_nimble.c
+++ b/extmod/modbluetooth_nimble.c
@@ -301,6 +301,11 @@ STATIC void sync_cb(void) {
         assert(rc == 0);
     }
 
+    if (MP_BLUETOOTH_MAX_ATTR_SIZE > 20) {
+        rc = ble_att_set_preferred_mtu(MP_BLUETOOTH_MAX_ATTR_SIZE+3);
+        assert(rc == 0);
+    }
+
     ble_svc_gap_device_name_set(MICROPY_PY_BLUETOOTH_DEFAULT_NAME);
 
     ble_state = BLE_STATE_ACTIVE;