diff --git a/shared-module/board/__init__.c b/shared-module/board/__init__.c
index cd599e7448c4..65441025f469 100644
--- a/shared-module/board/__init__.c
+++ b/shared-module/board/__init__.c
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ typedef struct {
 
 static const board_i2c_pin_t i2c_pin[CIRCUITPY_BOARD_I2C] = CIRCUITPY_BOARD_I2C_PIN;
 static busio_i2c_obj_t i2c_obj[CIRCUITPY_BOARD_I2C];
+static bool i2c_obj_created[CIRCUITPY_BOARD_I2C];
 
 bool common_hal_board_is_i2c(mp_obj_t obj) {
     for (uint8_t instance = 0; instance < CIRCUITPY_BOARD_I2C; instance++) {
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ bool common_hal_board_is_i2c(mp_obj_t obj) {
 }
 
 mp_obj_t common_hal_board_get_i2c(const mp_int_t instance) {
-    return &i2c_obj[instance];
+    return i2c_obj_created[instance] ? &i2c_obj[instance] : NULL;
 }
 
 mp_obj_t common_hal_board_create_i2c(const mp_int_t instance) {
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ mp_obj_t common_hal_board_create_i2c(const mp_int_t instance) {
 
     common_hal_busio_i2c_construct(self, i2c_pin[instance].scl, i2c_pin[instance].sda, 100000, 255);
 
+    i2c_obj_created[instance] = true;
     return &i2c_obj[instance];
 }
 #endif
@@ -101,6 +103,7 @@ typedef struct {
 
 static const board_spi_pin_t spi_pin[CIRCUITPY_BOARD_SPI] = CIRCUITPY_BOARD_SPI_PIN;
 static busio_spi_obj_t spi_obj[CIRCUITPY_BOARD_SPI];
+static bool spi_obj_created[CIRCUITPY_BOARD_SPI];
 
 bool common_hal_board_is_spi(mp_obj_t obj) {
     for (uint8_t instance = 0; instance < CIRCUITPY_BOARD_SPI; instance++) {
@@ -112,7 +115,7 @@ bool common_hal_board_is_spi(mp_obj_t obj) {
 }
 
 mp_obj_t common_hal_board_get_spi(const mp_int_t instance) {
-    return &spi_obj[instance];
+    return spi_obj_created[instance] ? &spi_obj[instance] : NULL;
 }
 
 mp_obj_t common_hal_board_create_spi(const mp_int_t instance) {
@@ -130,6 +133,7 @@ mp_obj_t common_hal_board_create_spi(const mp_int_t instance) {
 
     common_hal_busio_spi_construct(self, spi_pin[instance].clock, spi_pin[instance].mosi, spi_pin[instance].miso);
 
+    spi_obj_created[instance] = true;
     return &spi_obj[instance];
 }
 #endif
@@ -143,6 +147,7 @@ typedef struct {
 
 static const board_uart_pin_t uart_pin[CIRCUITPY_BOARD_UART] = CIRCUITPY_BOARD_UART_PIN;
 static busio_uart_obj_t uart_obj[CIRCUITPY_BOARD_UART];
+static bool uart_obj_created[CIRCUITPY_BOARD_UART];
 
 bool common_hal_board_is_uart(mp_obj_t obj) {
     for (uint8_t instance = 0; instance < CIRCUITPY_BOARD_UART; instance++) {
@@ -154,7 +159,7 @@ bool common_hal_board_is_uart(mp_obj_t obj) {
 }
 
 mp_obj_t common_hal_board_get_uart(const mp_int_t instance) {
-    return &uart_obj[instance];
+    return uart_obj_created[instance] ? &uart_obj[instance] : NULL;
 }
 
 mp_obj_t common_hal_board_create_uart(const mp_int_t instance) {
@@ -174,6 +179,7 @@ mp_obj_t common_hal_board_create_uart(const mp_int_t instance) {
     common_hal_busio_uart_construct(self, uart_pin[instance].tx, uart_pin[instance].rx,
         NULL, NULL, NULL, false, 9600, 8, BUSIO_UART_PARITY_NONE, 1, 1.0f, 64, NULL, false);
 
+    uart_obj_created[instance] = true;
     return &uart_obj[instance];
 }
 #endif
@@ -190,11 +196,12 @@ void reset_board_buses(void) {
             }
         }
         #endif
-        if (!common_hal_busio_i2c_deinited(&i2c_obj[instance])) {
+        if (i2c_obj_created[instance]) {
             // make sure I2C lock is not held over a soft reset
             common_hal_busio_i2c_unlock(&i2c_obj[instance]);
             if (!display_using_i2c) {
                 common_hal_busio_i2c_deinit(&i2c_obj[instance]);
+                i2c_obj_created[instance] = false;
             }
         }
     }
@@ -217,18 +224,22 @@ void reset_board_buses(void) {
             #endif
         }
         #endif
-        if (!common_hal_busio_spi_deinited(&spi_obj[instance])) {
+        if (spi_obj_created[instance]) {
             // make sure SPI lock is not held over a soft reset
             common_hal_busio_spi_unlock(&spi_obj[instance]);
             if (!display_using_spi) {
                 common_hal_busio_spi_deinit(&spi_obj[instance]);
+                spi_obj_created[instance] = false;
             }
         }
     }
     #endif
     #if CIRCUITPY_BOARD_UART
     for (uint8_t instance = 0; instance < CIRCUITPY_BOARD_UART; instance++) {
-        common_hal_busio_uart_deinit(&uart_obj[instance]);
+        if (uart_obj_created[instance]) {
+            common_hal_busio_uart_deinit(&uart_obj[instance]);
+            uart_obj_created[instance] = false;
+        }
     }
     #endif
 }