diff --git a/ports/esp32/machine_pin.c b/ports/esp32/machine_pin.c
index a899fa62ad..648674f9ad 100644
--- a/ports/esp32/machine_pin.c
+++ b/ports/esp32/machine_pin.c
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ STATIC mp_obj_t machine_pin_obj_init_helper(const machine_pin_obj_t *self, size_
     enum { ARG_mode, ARG_pull, ARG_value };
     static const mp_arg_t allowed_args[] = {
         { MP_QSTR_mode, MP_ARG_OBJ, {.u_obj = mp_const_none}},
-        { MP_QSTR_pull, MP_ARG_OBJ, {.u_obj = mp_const_none}},
+        { MP_QSTR_pull, MP_ARG_OBJ, {.u_obj = MP_OBJ_NEW_SMALL_INT(-1)}},
         { MP_QSTR_value, MP_ARG_KW_ONLY | MP_ARG_OBJ, {.u_obj = MP_OBJ_NULL}},
     };
 
@@ -164,8 +164,12 @@ STATIC mp_obj_t machine_pin_obj_init_helper(const machine_pin_obj_t *self, size_
     }
 
     // configure pull
-    if (args[ARG_pull].u_obj != mp_const_none) {
-        gpio_set_pull_mode(self->id, mp_obj_get_int(args[ARG_pull].u_obj));
+    if (args[ARG_pull].u_obj != MP_OBJ_NEW_SMALL_INT(-1)) {
+        if (args[ARG_pull].u_obj == mp_const_none) {
+            gpio_set_pull_mode(self->id, GPIO_FLOATING);
+        } else {
+            gpio_set_pull_mode(self->id, mp_obj_get_int(args[ARG_pull].u_obj));
+        }
     }
 
     return mp_const_none;