diff --git a/components/pthread/port/linux/pthread.c b/components/pthread/port/linux/pthread.c
index e5646da4d5a..5f0deb307d8 100644
--- a/components/pthread/port/linux/pthread.c
+++ b/components/pthread/port/linux/pthread.c
@@ -7,8 +7,25 @@
  * pthread port for Linux build
  */
 
+#include "sdkconfig.h"
 #include "esp_pthread.h"
+#include "esp_heap_caps.h"
+
+#include <pthread.h>
+
 #include <string.h>
+#include "freertos/FreeRTOS.h"
+
+static pthread_key_t s_pthread_cfg_key;
+static void esp_pthread_cfg_key_destructor(void *value)
+{
+    free(value);
+}
+
+static int get_default_pthread_core(void)
+{
+    return CONFIG_PTHREAD_TASK_CORE_DEFAULT == -1 ? tskNO_AFFINITY : CONFIG_PTHREAD_TASK_CORE_DEFAULT;
+}
 
 /**
  * @brief Creates a default pthread configuration based
@@ -24,8 +41,8 @@ esp_pthread_cfg_t esp_pthread_get_default_config(void)
         .prio = CONFIG_PTHREAD_TASK_PRIO_DEFAULT,
         .inherit_cfg = false,
         .thread_name = NULL,
-        .pin_to_core = 0,
-        .stack_alloc_caps = 0,
+        .pin_to_core = get_default_pthread_core(),
+        .stack_alloc_caps = MALLOC_CAP_INTERNAL | MALLOC_CAP_8BIT,
     };
 
     return cfg;
@@ -33,11 +50,55 @@ esp_pthread_cfg_t esp_pthread_get_default_config(void)
 
 esp_err_t esp_pthread_set_cfg(const esp_pthread_cfg_t *cfg)
 {
+    if (cfg->stack_size < PTHREAD_STACK_MIN) {
+        return ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG;
+    }
+
+    // 0 is treated as default value, hence change caps to MALLOC_CAP_8BIT | MALLOC_CAP_INTERNAL in that case
+    int heap_caps;
+    if (cfg->stack_alloc_caps == 0) {
+        heap_caps = MALLOC_CAP_8BIT | MALLOC_CAP_INTERNAL;
+    } else {
+        // Check that memory is 8-bit capable
+        if (!(cfg->stack_alloc_caps & MALLOC_CAP_8BIT)) {
+            return ESP_ERR_INVALID_ARG;
+        }
+
+        heap_caps = cfg->stack_alloc_caps;
+    }
+
+    /* If a value is already set, update that value */
+    esp_pthread_cfg_t *p = pthread_getspecific(s_pthread_cfg_key);
+    if (!p) {
+        p = malloc(sizeof(esp_pthread_cfg_t));
+        if (!p) {
+            return ESP_ERR_NO_MEM;
+        }
+    }
+    *p = *cfg;
+    p->stack_alloc_caps = heap_caps;
+    int __attribute((unused)) res = pthread_setspecific(s_pthread_cfg_key, p);
+
+    assert(res == 0);
+
     return ESP_OK;
 }
 
 esp_err_t esp_pthread_get_cfg(esp_pthread_cfg_t *p)
 {
+    esp_pthread_cfg_t *cfg = pthread_getspecific(s_pthread_cfg_key);
+    if (cfg) {
+        *p = *cfg;
+        return ESP_OK;
+    }
     memset(p, 0, sizeof(*p));
     return ESP_ERR_NOT_FOUND;
 }
+
+__attribute__((constructor)) esp_err_t esp_pthread_init(void)
+{
+    if (pthread_key_create(&s_pthread_cfg_key, esp_pthread_cfg_key_destructor) != 0) {
+        return ESP_ERR_NO_MEM;
+    }
+    return ESP_OK;
+}
diff --git a/components/pthread/pthread.c b/components/pthread/pthread.c
index c0a6f10db67..cf8791f3c3d 100644
--- a/components/pthread/pthread.c
+++ b/components/pthread/pthread.c
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ esp_err_t esp_pthread_set_cfg(const esp_pthread_cfg_t *cfg)
     pthread_setspecific(s_pthread_cfg_key, p);
 
     ESP_COMPILER_DIAGNOSTIC_PUSH_IGNORE("-Wanalyzer-malloc-leak") // ignore leak of 'p'
-    return 0;
+    return ESP_OK;
     ESP_COMPILER_DIAGNOSTIC_POP("-Wanalyzer-malloc-leak")
 }