diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express/board.c b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express/board.c
index 578963642dda9..85c37ee622920 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express/board.c
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express/board.c
@@ -28,9 +28,8 @@
 
 #include "boards/board.h"
 #include "common-hal/microcontroller/Pin.h"
+#include "supervisor/shared/board.h"
 #include "hal/include/hal_gpio.h"
-#include "shared-bindings/digitalio/DigitalInOut.h"
-#include "shared-bindings/neopixel_write/__init__.h"
 
 void board_init(void)
 {
@@ -54,12 +53,5 @@ bool board_requests_safe_mode(void) {
 }
 
 void reset_board(void) {
-    uint8_t empty[30];
-    memset(empty, 0, 30);
-    digitalio_digitalinout_obj_t neopixel_pin;
-    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_construct(&neopixel_pin, &pin_PB23);
-    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_switch_to_output(&neopixel_pin, false,
-        DRIVE_MODE_PUSH_PULL);
-    common_hal_neopixel_write(&neopixel_pin, empty, 30);
-    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_deinit(&neopixel_pin);
+    board_reset_user_neopixels();
 }
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express/mpconfigboard.h
index 1d4fc9893c420..0c5e5b76222d4 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 // Increase stack size slightly due to CPX library import nesting
 #define CIRCUITPY_DEFAULT_STACK_SIZE  (4760) //divisible by 8
 
+#define USER_NEOPIXELS_PIN      (&pin_PB23)
+
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SCL (&pin_PB03)
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SDA (&pin_PB02)
 
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_crickit/board.c b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_crickit/board.c
index 578963642dda9..21217caac9574 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_crickit/board.c
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_crickit/board.c
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@
 #include "boards/board.h"
 #include "common-hal/microcontroller/Pin.h"
 #include "hal/include/hal_gpio.h"
-#include "shared-bindings/digitalio/DigitalInOut.h"
-#include "shared-bindings/neopixel_write/__init__.h"
+#include "supervisor/shared/board.h"
 
 void board_init(void)
 {
@@ -54,12 +53,5 @@ bool board_requests_safe_mode(void) {
 }
 
 void reset_board(void) {
-    uint8_t empty[30];
-    memset(empty, 0, 30);
-    digitalio_digitalinout_obj_t neopixel_pin;
-    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_construct(&neopixel_pin, &pin_PB23);
-    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_switch_to_output(&neopixel_pin, false,
-        DRIVE_MODE_PUSH_PULL);
-    common_hal_neopixel_write(&neopixel_pin, empty, 30);
-    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_deinit(&neopixel_pin);
+    board_reset_user_neopixels();
 }
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_crickit/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_crickit/mpconfigboard.h
index 1e657bb034dc9..312fd26268dda 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_crickit/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_crickit/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 
 #define CALIBRATE_CRYSTALLESS 1
 
+#define USER_NEOPIXELS_PIN      (&pin_PB23)
+
 // Explanation of how a user got into safe mode.
 #define BOARD_USER_SAFE_MODE_ACTION "pressing both buttons at start up"
 
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_displayio/board.c b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_displayio/board.c
index 578963642dda9..21217caac9574 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_displayio/board.c
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_displayio/board.c
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@
 #include "boards/board.h"
 #include "common-hal/microcontroller/Pin.h"
 #include "hal/include/hal_gpio.h"
-#include "shared-bindings/digitalio/DigitalInOut.h"
-#include "shared-bindings/neopixel_write/__init__.h"
+#include "supervisor/shared/board.h"
 
 void board_init(void)
 {
@@ -54,12 +53,5 @@ bool board_requests_safe_mode(void) {
 }
 
 void reset_board(void) {
-    uint8_t empty[30];
-    memset(empty, 0, 30);
-    digitalio_digitalinout_obj_t neopixel_pin;
-    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_construct(&neopixel_pin, &pin_PB23);
-    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_switch_to_output(&neopixel_pin, false,
-        DRIVE_MODE_PUSH_PULL);
-    common_hal_neopixel_write(&neopixel_pin, empty, 30);
-    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_deinit(&neopixel_pin);
+    board_reset_user_neopixels();
 }
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_displayio/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_displayio/mpconfigboard.h
index 5dbcf61aa3d8b..4796e90a513fd 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_displayio/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/circuitplayground_express_displayio/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 // Increase stack size slightly due to CPX library import nesting.
 #define CIRCUITPY_DEFAULT_STACK_SIZE  (4760)  // divisible by 8
 
+#define USER_NEOPIXELS_PIN      (&pin_PB23)
+
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SCL (&pin_PB03)
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SDA (&pin_PB02)
 
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge/board.c b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge/board.c
index 37f7991d15966..f3ac7176ab73c 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge/board.c
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge/board.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "shared-bindings/displayio/FourWire.h"
 #include "shared-module/displayio/__init__.h"
 #include "shared-module/displayio/mipi_constants.h"
+#include "supervisor/shared/board.h"
 #include "tick.h"
 
 displayio_fourwire_obj_t board_display_obj;
@@ -118,4 +119,5 @@ bool board_requests_safe_mode(void) {
 }
 
 void reset_board(void) {
+    board_reset_user_neopixels();
 }
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge/mpconfigboard.h
index 435185322aac9..74a13eb1c2b48 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 #define MICROPY_PORT_C (0)
 #define MICROPY_PORT_D (0)
 
+#define USER_NEOPIXELS_PIN      (&pin_PA15)
+
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SCL (&pin_PA13)
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SDA (&pin_PA12)
 
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge_airlift/board.c b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge_airlift/board.c
index 7622de6f08682..061f3d7772084 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge_airlift/board.c
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge_airlift/board.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "shared-bindings/displayio/FourWire.h"
 #include "shared-module/displayio/__init__.h"
 #include "shared-module/displayio/mipi_constants.h"
+#include "supervisor/shared/board.h"
 #include "tick.h"
 
 displayio_fourwire_obj_t board_display_obj;
@@ -96,4 +97,5 @@ bool board_requests_safe_mode(void) {
 }
 
 void reset_board(void) {
+    board_reset_user_neopixels();
 }
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge_airlift/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge_airlift/mpconfigboard.h
index 229cfa3354d3b..c6ab4ed8e06bf 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge_airlift/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pybadge_airlift/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 #define MICROPY_PORT_C (0)
 #define MICROPY_PORT_D (0)
 
+#define USER_NEOPIXELS_PIN      (&pin_PA15)
+
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SCL (&pin_PA13)
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SDA (&pin_PA12)
 
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer/board.c b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer/board.c
index b33ae4fb06210..8c6fbca06546f 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer/board.c
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer/board.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "shared-bindings/displayio/FourWire.h"
 #include "shared-module/displayio/__init__.h"
 #include "shared-module/displayio/mipi_constants.h"
+#include "supervisor/shared/board.h"
 #include "tick.h"
 
 displayio_fourwire_obj_t board_display_obj;
@@ -118,4 +119,5 @@ bool board_requests_safe_mode(void) {
 }
 
 void reset_board(void) {
+    board_reset_user_neopixels();
 }
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer/mpconfigboard.h
index 102c2595676d9..21f75d272886e 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 #define MICROPY_PORT_C (0)
 #define MICROPY_PORT_D (0)
 
+#define USER_NEOPIXELS_PIN      (&pin_PA15)
+
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SCL (&pin_PA13)
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SDA (&pin_PA12)
 
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer_advance/board.c b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer_advance/board.c
index 8eb501243f09f..ff2da34a26d78 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer_advance/board.c
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer_advance/board.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "shared-bindings/displayio/FourWire.h"
 #include "shared-module/displayio/__init__.h"
 #include "shared-module/displayio/mipi_constants.h"
+#include "supervisor/shared/board.h"
 #include "tick.h"
 
 displayio_fourwire_obj_t board_display_obj;
@@ -96,4 +97,5 @@ bool board_requests_safe_mode(void) {
 }
 
 void reset_board(void) {
+    board_reset_user_neopixels();
 }
diff --git a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer_advance/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer_advance/mpconfigboard.h
index fbe946b72fa9e..7c631d1c373a5 100644
--- a/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer_advance/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/atmel-samd/boards/pygamer_advance/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 #define MICROPY_PORT_C (0)
 #define MICROPY_PORT_D (0)
 
+#define USER_NEOPIXELS_PIN      (&pin_PA15)
+
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SCL (&pin_PA13)
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SDA (&pin_PA12)
 
diff --git a/ports/nrf/boards/circuitplayground_bluefruit/board.c b/ports/nrf/boards/circuitplayground_bluefruit/board.c
index 7c8ec8e9a224d..3aa6857da2ded 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/boards/circuitplayground_bluefruit/board.c
+++ b/ports/nrf/boards/circuitplayground_bluefruit/board.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "mpconfigboard.h"
 #include "py/obj.h"
 #include "peripherals/nrf/pins.h"
+#include "supervisor/shared/board.h"
 
 #include "nrf_gpio.h"
 
@@ -47,4 +48,6 @@ void reset_board(void) {
                  NRF_GPIO_PIN_S0S1,
                  NRF_GPIO_PIN_NOSENSE);
     nrf_gpio_pin_write(POWER_SWITCH_PIN->number, false);
+
+    board_reset_user_neopixels();
 }
diff --git a/ports/nrf/boards/circuitplayground_bluefruit/mpconfigboard.h b/ports/nrf/boards/circuitplayground_bluefruit/mpconfigboard.h
index 7f9933b4212a5..e401cecc1658c 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/boards/circuitplayground_bluefruit/mpconfigboard.h
+++ b/ports/nrf/boards/circuitplayground_bluefruit/mpconfigboard.h
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@
 // Disables onboard peripherals and neopixels to save power.
 #define POWER_SWITCH_PIN            (&pin_P0_06)
 
+#define USER_NEOPIXELS_PIN          (&pin_P0_13)
+
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SCL         (&pin_P0_04)
 #define DEFAULT_I2C_BUS_SDA         (&pin_P0_05)
 
diff --git a/ports/nrf/common-hal/neopixel_write/__init__.c b/ports/nrf/common-hal/neopixel_write/__init__.c
index 3052e908dd6ab..8495a359d748c 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/common-hal/neopixel_write/__init__.c
+++ b/ports/nrf/common-hal/neopixel_write/__init__.c
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ uint32_t next_start_tick_us = 1000;
 
 void common_hal_neopixel_write (const digitalio_digitalinout_obj_t* digitalinout, uint8_t *pixels, uint32_t numBytes) {
     // To support both the SoftDevice + Neopixels we use the EasyDMA
-    // feature from the NRF25. However this technique implies to
+    // feature from the NRF52. However this technique implies to
     // generate a pattern and store it on the memory. The actual
     // memory used in bytes corresponds to the following formula:
     //              totalMem = numBytes*8*2+(2*2)
@@ -113,22 +113,28 @@ void common_hal_neopixel_write (const digitalio_digitalinout_obj_t* digitalinout
     // using DWT
 
 #define PATTERN_SIZE(numBytes) (numBytes * 8 * sizeof(uint16_t) + 2 * sizeof(uint16_t))
+// Allocate PWM space for up to STACK_PIXELS on the stack, to avoid malloc'ing.
+// We may need to write to the status neopixel or to Circuit Playground NeoPixels
+// when we cannot malloc, between VM instantiations.
+// We need space for at least 10 pixels for Circuit Playground, but let's choose 24
+// to handle larger NeoPixel rings without malloc'ing.
+#define STACK_PIXELS 24
 
     uint32_t pattern_size = PATTERN_SIZE(numBytes);
     uint16_t* pixels_pattern = NULL;
     bool pattern_on_heap = false;
 
-    // Use the stack to store 1 pixels worth of PWM data for the status led. uint32_t to ensure alignment.
-    // Make it at least as big as PATTERN_SIZE(3), for one pixel of RGB data.
+    // Use the stack to store STACK_PIXEL's worth of PWM data. uint32_t to ensure alignment.
+    // It is 3*STACK_PIXELS to handle RGB.
     // PATTERN_SIZE is a multiple of 4, so we don't need round up to make sure one_pixel is large enough.
-    uint32_t one_pixel[PATTERN_SIZE(3)/sizeof(uint32_t)];
+    uint32_t stack_pixels[PATTERN_SIZE(3 * STACK_PIXELS) / sizeof(uint32_t)];
 
     NRF_PWM_Type* pwm = find_free_pwm();
 
     // only malloc if there is PWM device available
     if ( pwm != NULL ) {
-        if (pattern_size <= sizeof(one_pixel)) {
-            pixels_pattern = (uint16_t *) one_pixel;
+        if (pattern_size <= sizeof(stack_pixels)) {
+            pixels_pattern = (uint16_t *) stack_pixels;
         } else {
             uint8_t sd_en = 0;
             (void) sd_softdevice_is_enabled(&sd_en);
diff --git a/supervisor/shared/board.c b/supervisor/shared/board.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e3eb8fd0d7aa1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/supervisor/shared/board.c
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of the MicroPython project, http://micropython.org/
+ *
+ * The MIT License (MIT)
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2020 Dan Halbert for Adafruit Industries
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+ * of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+ * in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+ * to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+ * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+ * furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+ * all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+ * AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+ * OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
+ * THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+#include "supervisor/shared/board.h"
+
+#include "shared-bindings/digitalio/DigitalInOut.h"
+#include "shared-bindings/neopixel_write/__init__.h"
+
+#ifdef USER_NEOPIXELS_PIN
+
+// The maximum number of user neopixels right now is 10, on Circuit Playgrounds.
+// PyBadge and PyGamer have max 5
+#define USER_NEOPIXELS_MAX_COUNT 10
+
+void board_reset_user_neopixels(void) {
+    // Turn off on-board NeoPixel string
+    uint8_t empty[USER_NEOPIXELS_MAX_COUNT * 3] = { 0 };
+    digitalio_digitalinout_obj_t neopixel_pin;
+    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_construct(&neopixel_pin, USER_NEOPIXELS_PIN);
+    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_switch_to_output(&neopixel_pin, false,
+        DRIVE_MODE_PUSH_PULL);
+    common_hal_neopixel_write(&neopixel_pin, empty, USER_NEOPIXELS_MAX_COUNT * 3);
+    common_hal_digitalio_digitalinout_deinit(&neopixel_pin);
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/supervisor/shared/board.h b/supervisor/shared/board.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..0e4d73455d115
--- /dev/null
+++ b/supervisor/shared/board.h
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of the MicroPython project, http://micropython.org/
+ *
+ * The MIT License (MIT)
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2020 Dan Halbert for Adafruit Industries
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+ * of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+ * in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+ * to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+ * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+ * furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+ * all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+ * AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+ * OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
+ * THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+#ifndef MICROPY_INCLUDED_SUPERVISOR_BOARD_H
+#define MICROPY_INCLUDED_SUPERVISOR_BOARD_H
+
+#include "py/mpconfig.h"
+
+#ifdef USER_NEOPIXELS_PIN
+
+void board_reset_user_neopixels(void);
+
+#endif
+
+#endif  // MICROPY_INCLUDED_SUPERVISOR_BOARD_H
diff --git a/supervisor/supervisor.mk b/supervisor/supervisor.mk
index 96a14c25b418f..52d60b52b3aed 100644
--- a/supervisor/supervisor.mk
+++ b/supervisor/supervisor.mk
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ SRC_SUPERVISOR = \
 	main.c \
 	supervisor/port.c \
 	supervisor/shared/autoreload.c \
+	supervisor/shared/board.c \
 	supervisor/shared/display.c \
 	supervisor/shared/filesystem.c \
 	supervisor/shared/flash.c \