diff --git a/ports/nrf/boards/microbit/modules/microbitdisplay.c b/ports/nrf/boards/microbit/modules/microbitdisplay.c
index a0508886d7..b35703ad6f 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/boards/microbit/modules/microbitdisplay.c
+++ b/ports/nrf/boards/microbit/modules/microbitdisplay.c
@@ -574,3 +574,5 @@ void microbit_display_init(void) {
         nrf_gpio_cfg_output(i);
     }
 }
+
+MP_REGISTER_ROOT_POINTER(void *async_data[2]);
diff --git a/ports/nrf/drivers/softpwm.c b/ports/nrf/drivers/softpwm.c
index 517880c8c9..6acdf7aa76 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/drivers/softpwm.c
+++ b/ports/nrf/drivers/softpwm.c
@@ -255,4 +255,7 @@ void pwm_release(int32_t pin) {
     nrf_gpio_pin_clear(pin);
 }
 
+MP_REGISTER_ROOT_POINTER(const struct _pwm_events *pwm_active_events);
+MP_REGISTER_ROOT_POINTER(const struct _pwm_events *pwm_pending_events);
+
 #endif // MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_SOFT_PWM
diff --git a/ports/nrf/modules/machine/pin.c b/ports/nrf/modules/machine/pin.c
index 170caf6dde..3a45c22d18 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/modules/machine/pin.c
+++ b/ports/nrf/modules/machine/pin.c
@@ -37,6 +37,12 @@
 #include "nrf_gpio.h"
 #include "nrfx_gpiote.h"
 
+#if defined(NRF52840_XXAA)
+#define NUM_OF_PINS 48
+#else
+#define NUM_OF_PINS 32
+#endif
+
 extern const pin_obj_t machine_board_pin_obj[];
 extern const uint8_t machine_pin_num_of_board_pins;
 
@@ -671,3 +677,7 @@ const mp_obj_type_t pin_af_type = {
     .print = pin_af_obj_print,
     .locals_dict = (mp_obj_dict_t*)&pin_af_locals_dict,
 };
+
+MP_REGISTER_ROOT_POINTER(mp_obj_t pin_class_mapper);
+MP_REGISTER_ROOT_POINTER(mp_obj_t pin_class_map_dict);
+MP_REGISTER_ROOT_POINTER(mp_obj_t pin_irq_handlers[NUM_OF_PINS]);
diff --git a/ports/nrf/modules/music/modmusic.c b/ports/nrf/modules/music/modmusic.c
index a950b03920..a0ae7f7c8e 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/modules/music/modmusic.c
+++ b/ports/nrf/modules/music/modmusic.c
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ enum {
     ASYNC_MUSIC_STATE_ARTICULATE,
 };
 
-#define music_data MP_STATE_PORT(music_data)
+#define music_data MP_STATE_PORT(modmusic_music_data)
 
 extern volatile uint32_t ticks;
 
@@ -510,5 +510,6 @@ const mp_obj_module_t music_module = {
 };
 
 MP_REGISTER_MODULE(MP_QSTR_music, music_module);
+MP_REGISTER_ROOT_POINTER(struct _music_data_t *modmusic_music_data);
 
 #endif // MICROPY_PY_MUSIC
diff --git a/ports/nrf/mpconfigport.h b/ports/nrf/mpconfigport.h
index fcbe71c5a0..b3a95614a4 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/mpconfigport.h
+++ b/ports/nrf/mpconfigport.h
@@ -310,41 +310,6 @@ typedef long mp_off_t;
 
 #define MP_STATE_PORT MP_STATE_VM
 
-#if MICROPY_PY_MUSIC
-#define ROOT_POINTERS_MUSIC \
-    struct _music_data_t *music_data;
-#else
-#define ROOT_POINTERS_MUSIC
-#endif
-
-#if MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_SOFT_PWM
-#define ROOT_POINTERS_SOFTPWM \
-    const struct _pwm_events *pwm_active_events; \
-    const struct _pwm_events *pwm_pending_events;
-#else
-#define ROOT_POINTERS_SOFTPWM
-#endif
-
-#if defined(NRF52840_XXAA)
-#define NUM_OF_PINS 48
-#else
-#define NUM_OF_PINS 32
-#endif
-
-#define MICROPY_PORT_ROOT_POINTERS \
-    mp_obj_t pin_class_mapper; \
-    mp_obj_t pin_class_map_dict; \
-    mp_obj_t pin_irq_handlers[NUM_OF_PINS]; \
-    \
-    /* stdio is repeated on this UART object if it's not null */ \
-    struct _machine_hard_uart_obj_t *board_stdio_uart; \
-    \
-    ROOT_POINTERS_MUSIC \
-    ROOT_POINTERS_SOFTPWM \
-    \
-    /* micro:bit root pointers */ \
-    void *async_data[2]; \
-
 #if MICROPY_HW_USB_CDC
 #define MICROPY_HW_USBDEV_TASK_HOOK extern void tud_task(void); tud_task();
 #else
diff --git a/ports/nrf/mphalport.c b/ports/nrf/mphalport.c
index 1b31ad5acc..9405cb2e3a 100644
--- a/ports/nrf/mphalport.c
+++ b/ports/nrf/mphalport.c
@@ -374,3 +374,5 @@ const char *nrfx_error_code_lookup(uint32_t err_code) {
 }
 
 #endif // NRFX_LOG_ENABLED
+
+MP_REGISTER_ROOT_POINTER(struct _machine_hard_uart_obj_t *board_stdio_uart);