diff --git a/py/mpstate.h b/py/mpstate.h
index e966bc80de..10a5db8194 100644
--- a/py/mpstate.h
+++ b/py/mpstate.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "py/misc.h"
 #include "py/nlr.h"
 #include "py/obj.h"
+#include "py/objlist.h" // in case port needs mp_obj_list_t in root pointers
 #include "py/objexcept.h"
 
 // This file contains structures defining the state of the Micro Python
diff --git a/stmhal/modnetwork.c b/stmhal/modnetwork.c
index f1ca4a9546..4163783e2c 100644
--- a/stmhal/modnetwork.c
+++ b/stmhal/modnetwork.c
@@ -38,27 +38,25 @@
 ///
 /// This module provides network drivers and routing configuration.
 
-mp_obj_list_t mod_network_nic_list;
-
 void mod_network_init(void) {
-    mp_obj_list_init(&mod_network_nic_list, 0);
+    mp_obj_list_init(&MP_STATE_PORT(mod_network_nic_list), 0);
 }
 
 void mod_network_register_nic(mp_obj_t nic) {
-    for (mp_uint_t i = 0; i < mod_network_nic_list.len; i++) {
-        if (mod_network_nic_list.items[i] == nic) {
+    for (mp_uint_t i = 0; i < MP_STATE_PORT(mod_network_nic_list).len; i++) {
+        if (MP_STATE_PORT(mod_network_nic_list).items[i] == nic) {
             // nic already registered
             return;
         }
     }
     // nic not registered so add to list
-    mp_obj_list_append(&mod_network_nic_list, nic);
+    mp_obj_list_append(&MP_STATE_PORT(mod_network_nic_list), nic);
 }
 
 mp_obj_t mod_network_find_nic(const uint8_t *ip) {
     // find a NIC that is suited to given IP address
-    for (mp_uint_t i = 0; i < mod_network_nic_list.len; i++) {
-        mp_obj_t nic = mod_network_nic_list.items[i];
+    for (mp_uint_t i = 0; i < MP_STATE_PORT(mod_network_nic_list).len; i++) {
+        mp_obj_t nic = MP_STATE_PORT(mod_network_nic_list).items[i];
         // TODO check IP suitability here
         //mod_network_nic_type_t *nic_type = (mod_network_nic_type_t*)mp_obj_get_type(nic);
         return nic;
@@ -68,7 +66,7 @@ mp_obj_t mod_network_find_nic(const uint8_t *ip) {
 }
 
 STATIC mp_obj_t network_route(void) {
-    return &mod_network_nic_list;
+    return &MP_STATE_PORT(mod_network_nic_list);
 }
 STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_0(network_route_obj, network_route);
 
diff --git a/stmhal/modnetwork.h b/stmhal/modnetwork.h
index 8e23f877f2..9bde29f73d 100644
--- a/stmhal/modnetwork.h
+++ b/stmhal/modnetwork.h
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ typedef struct _mod_network_socket_obj_t {
     };
 } mod_network_socket_obj_t;
 
-extern struct _mp_obj_list_t mod_network_nic_list;
 extern const mod_network_nic_type_t mod_network_nic_type_wiznet5k;
 extern const mod_network_nic_type_t mod_network_nic_type_cc3k;
 
diff --git a/stmhal/modusocket.c b/stmhal/modusocket.c
index caa8843eb5..acffb38d1b 100644
--- a/stmhal/modusocket.c
+++ b/stmhal/modusocket.c
@@ -385,8 +385,8 @@ STATIC mp_obj_t mod_usocket_getaddrinfo(mp_obj_t host_in, mp_obj_t port_in) {
     mp_int_t port = mp_obj_get_int(port_in);
 
     // find a NIC that can do a name lookup
-    for (mp_uint_t i = 0; i < mod_network_nic_list.len; i++) {
-        mp_obj_t nic = mod_network_nic_list.items[i];
+    for (mp_uint_t i = 0; i < MP_STATE_PORT(mod_network_nic_list).len; i++) {
+        mp_obj_t nic = MP_STATE_PORT(mod_network_nic_list).items[i];
         mod_network_nic_type_t *nic_type = (mod_network_nic_type_t*)mp_obj_get_type(nic);
         if (nic_type->gethostbyname != NULL) {
             uint8_t out_ip[MOD_NETWORK_IPADDR_BUF_SIZE];
diff --git a/stmhal/mpconfigport.h b/stmhal/mpconfigport.h
index c1e4b0f9de..ad3599ee83 100644
--- a/stmhal/mpconfigport.h
+++ b/stmhal/mpconfigport.h
@@ -152,6 +152,9 @@ extern const struct _mp_obj_module_t mp_module_network;
     \
     /* pointers to all UART objects (if they have been created) */ \
     struct _pyb_uart_obj_t *pyb_uart_obj_all[6]; \
+    \
+    /* list of registered NICs */ \
+    mp_obj_list_t mod_network_nic_list; \
 
 // type definitions for the specific machine