diff --git a/drivers/plasma/apa102.cpp b/drivers/plasma/apa102.cpp
index 87bdf328..75326067 100644
--- a/drivers/plasma/apa102.cpp
+++ b/drivers/plasma/apa102.cpp
@@ -60,14 +60,18 @@ bool APA102::dma_timer_callback(struct repeating_timer *t) {
     return true;
 }
 
+bool APA102::is_busy() {
+   return dma_channel_is_busy(dma_channel);
+}
+
 void APA102::update(bool blocking) {
-    if(dma_channel_is_busy(dma_channel) && !blocking) return;
-    while(dma_channel_is_busy(dma_channel)) {}; // Block waiting for DMA finish
+    if(is_busy() && !blocking) return;
+    while(is_busy()) {}; // Block waiting for DMA finish
     pio->txf[sm] = 0x00000000; // Output the APA102 start-of-frame bytes
     dma_channel_set_trans_count(dma_channel, num_leds, false);
     dma_channel_set_read_addr(dma_channel, buffer, true);
     if (!blocking) return;
-    while(dma_channel_is_busy(dma_channel)) {}; // Block waiting for DMA finish
+    while(is_busy()) {}; // Block waiting for DMA finish
     // This is necessary to prevent a single LED remaining lit when clearing and updating.
     // This code will only run in *blocking* mode since it's assumed non-blocking will be continuously updating anyway.
     // Yes this will slow down LED updates... don't use blocking mode unless you're clearing LEDs before shutdown,
diff --git a/drivers/plasma/apa102.hpp b/drivers/plasma/apa102.hpp
index 944ceb6c..97bedf6a 100644
--- a/drivers/plasma/apa102.hpp
+++ b/drivers/plasma/apa102.hpp
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ namespace plasma {
             bool start(uint fps=60);
             bool stop();
             void update(bool blocking=false);
+            bool is_busy();
             void clear();
             void set_hsv(uint32_t index, float h, float s, float v);
             void set_rgb(uint32_t index, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b, bool gamma=true);
diff --git a/drivers/plasma/ws2812.cpp b/drivers/plasma/ws2812.cpp
index 4da6d932..f3d3a2b5 100644
--- a/drivers/plasma/ws2812.cpp
+++ b/drivers/plasma/ws2812.cpp
@@ -46,13 +46,17 @@ bool WS2812::dma_timer_callback(struct repeating_timer *t) {
     return true;
 }
 
+bool WS2812::is_busy() {
+   return dma_channel_is_busy(dma_channel);
+}
+
 void WS2812::update(bool blocking) {
-    if(dma_channel_is_busy(dma_channel) && !blocking) return;
-    while(dma_channel_is_busy(dma_channel)) {}; // Block waiting for DMA finish
+    if(is_busy() && !blocking) return;
+    while(is_busy()) {}; // Block waiting for DMA finish
     dma_channel_set_trans_count(dma_channel, num_leds, false);
     dma_channel_set_read_addr(dma_channel, buffer, true);
     if (!blocking) return;
-    while(dma_channel_is_busy(dma_channel)) {}; // Block waiting for DMA finish
+    while(is_busy()) {}; // Block waiting for DMA finish
 }
 
 bool WS2812::start(uint fps) {
diff --git a/drivers/plasma/ws2812.hpp b/drivers/plasma/ws2812.hpp
index 0c507db4..044c7b80 100644
--- a/drivers/plasma/ws2812.hpp
+++ b/drivers/plasma/ws2812.hpp
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ namespace plasma {
             bool start(uint fps=60);
             bool stop();
             void update(bool blocking=false);
+            bool is_busy();
             void clear();
             void set_hsv(uint32_t index, float h, float s, float v, uint8_t w=0);
             void set_rgb(uint32_t index, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b, uint8_t w=0, bool gamma=true);
diff --git a/micropython/modules/plasma/plasma.c b/micropython/modules/plasma/plasma.c
index 6c7982c3..d4a93e74 100644
--- a/micropython/modules/plasma/plasma.c
+++ b/micropython/modules/plasma/plasma.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_KW(PlasmaAPA102_start_obj, 1, PlasmaAPA102_start);
 MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_KW(PlasmaAPA102_get_obj, 2, PlasmaAPA102_get);
 MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_1(PlasmaAPA102_clear_obj, PlasmaAPA102_clear);
 MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_1(PlasmaAPA102_update_obj, PlasmaAPA102_update);
+MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_2(PlasmaAPA102_set_blocking_obj, PlasmaAPA102_set_blocking);
 
 MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_1(PlasmaWS2812___del___obj, PlasmaWS2812___del__);
 MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_KW(PlasmaWS2812_set_rgb_obj, 5, PlasmaWS2812_set_rgb);
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_KW(PlasmaWS2812_start_obj, 1, PlasmaWS2812_start);
 MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_KW(PlasmaWS2812_get_obj, 2, PlasmaWS2812_get);
 MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_1(PlasmaWS2812_clear_obj, PlasmaWS2812_clear);
 MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_1(PlasmaWS2812_update_obj, PlasmaWS2812_update);
+MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_2(PlasmaWS2812_set_blocking_obj, PlasmaWS2812_set_blocking);
 
 /***** Binding of Methods *****/
 static const mp_rom_map_elem_t PlasmaAPA102_locals_dict_table[] = {
@@ -29,6 +31,7 @@ static const mp_rom_map_elem_t PlasmaAPA102_locals_dict_table[] = {
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_get), MP_ROM_PTR(&PlasmaAPA102_get_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_clear), MP_ROM_PTR(&PlasmaAPA102_clear_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_update), MP_ROM_PTR(&PlasmaAPA102_update_obj) },
+    { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_set_blocking), MP_ROM_PTR(&PlasmaAPA102_set_blocking_obj) },
 };
 static const mp_rom_map_elem_t PlasmaWS2812_locals_dict_table[] = {
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR___del__), MP_ROM_PTR(&PlasmaWS2812___del___obj) },
@@ -38,6 +41,7 @@ static const mp_rom_map_elem_t PlasmaWS2812_locals_dict_table[] = {
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_get), MP_ROM_PTR(&PlasmaWS2812_get_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_clear), MP_ROM_PTR(&PlasmaWS2812_clear_obj) },
     { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_update), MP_ROM_PTR(&PlasmaWS2812_update_obj) },
+    { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_set_blocking), MP_ROM_PTR(&PlasmaWS2812_set_blocking_obj) },
 };
 
 static MP_DEFINE_CONST_DICT(PlasmaAPA102_locals_dict, PlasmaAPA102_locals_dict_table);
diff --git a/micropython/modules/plasma/plasma.cpp b/micropython/modules/plasma/plasma.cpp
index 349a6755..b55e8eb5 100644
--- a/micropython/modules/plasma/plasma.cpp
+++ b/micropython/modules/plasma/plasma.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ typedef struct _PlasmaWS2812_obj_t {
     mp_obj_base_t base;
     WS2812* ws2812;
     void *buf;
+    bool blocking;
 } _PlasmaWS2812_obj_t;
 
 
@@ -98,6 +99,7 @@ mp_obj_t PlasmaWS2812_make_new(const mp_obj_type_t *type, size_t n_args, size_t
 
     self = mp_obj_malloc_with_finaliser(_PlasmaWS2812_obj_t, &PlasmaWS2812_type);
     self->buf = buffer;
+    self->blocking = false;
 
     self->ws2812 = m_new_class(WS2812, num_leds, pio, sm, dat, freq, rgbw, color_order, (WS2812::RGB *)buffer);
 
@@ -112,7 +114,13 @@ mp_obj_t PlasmaWS2812_clear(mp_obj_t self_in) {
 
 mp_obj_t PlasmaWS2812_update(mp_obj_t self_in) {
     _PlasmaWS2812_obj_t *self = MP_OBJ_TO_PTR2(self_in, _PlasmaWS2812_obj_t);
-    self->ws2812->update(true);
+    self->ws2812->update(self->blocking);
+    return mp_const_none;
+}
+
+mp_obj_t PlasmaWS2812_set_blocking(mp_obj_t self_in, mp_obj_t blocking_in) {
+    _PlasmaWS2812_obj_t *self = MP_OBJ_TO_PTR2(self_in, _PlasmaWS2812_obj_t);
+    self->blocking = blocking_in == mp_const_true;
     return mp_const_none;
 }
 
@@ -230,6 +238,7 @@ typedef struct _PlasmaAPA102_obj_t {
     mp_obj_base_t base;
     APA102* apa102;
     void *buf;
+    bool blocking;
 } _PlasmaAPA102_obj_t;
 
 
@@ -308,6 +317,7 @@ mp_obj_t PlasmaAPA102_make_new(const mp_obj_type_t *type, size_t n_args, size_t
 
     self = mp_obj_malloc_with_finaliser(_PlasmaAPA102_obj_t, &PlasmaAPA102_type);
     self->buf = buffer;
+    self->blocking = false;
 
     self->apa102 = m_new_class(APA102, num_leds, pio, sm, dat, clk, freq, buffer);
 
@@ -322,7 +332,13 @@ mp_obj_t PlasmaAPA102_clear(mp_obj_t self_in) {
 
 mp_obj_t PlasmaAPA102_update(mp_obj_t self_in) {
     _PlasmaAPA102_obj_t *self = MP_OBJ_TO_PTR2(self_in, _PlasmaAPA102_obj_t);
-    self->apa102->update(true);
+    self->apa102->update(self->blocking);
+    return mp_const_none;
+}
+
+mp_obj_t PlasmaAPA102_set_blocking(mp_obj_t self_in, mp_obj_t blocking_in) {
+    _PlasmaAPA102_obj_t *self = MP_OBJ_TO_PTR2(self_in, _PlasmaAPA102_obj_t);
+    self->blocking = blocking_in == mp_const_true;
     return mp_const_none;
 }
 
diff --git a/micropython/modules/plasma/plasma.h b/micropython/modules/plasma/plasma.h
index 4483e6b4..39e73329 100644
--- a/micropython/modules/plasma/plasma.h
+++ b/micropython/modules/plasma/plasma.h
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ extern mp_obj_t PlasmaAPA102_set_brightness(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *pos_a
 extern mp_obj_t PlasmaAPA102_get(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *pos_args, mp_map_t *kw_args);
 extern mp_obj_t PlasmaAPA102_clear(mp_obj_t self_in);
 extern mp_obj_t PlasmaAPA102_update(mp_obj_t self_in);
+extern mp_obj_t PlasmaAPA102_set_blocking(mp_obj_t self_in, mp_obj_t blocking_in);
 
 extern void PlasmaWS2812_print(const mp_print_t *print, mp_obj_t self_in, mp_print_kind_t kind);
 extern mp_obj_t PlasmaWS2812_make_new(const mp_obj_type_t *type, size_t n_args, size_t n_kw, const mp_obj_t *all_args);
@@ -26,5 +27,6 @@ extern mp_obj_t PlasmaWS2812_set_hsv(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *pos_args, mp
 extern mp_obj_t PlasmaWS2812_get(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *pos_args, mp_map_t *kw_args);
 extern mp_obj_t PlasmaWS2812_clear(mp_obj_t self_in);
 extern mp_obj_t PlasmaWS2812_update(mp_obj_t self_in);
+extern mp_obj_t PlasmaWS2812_set_blocking(mp_obj_t self_in, mp_obj_t blocking_in);
 
 extern bool Pimoroni_mp_obj_to_i2c(mp_obj_t in, void *out);
\ No newline at end of file