diff --git a/ports/stm32/mphalport.h b/ports/stm32/mphalport.h
index 8028782a90..358d9cd25d 100644
--- a/ports/stm32/mphalport.h
+++ b/ports/stm32/mphalport.h
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ bool mp_hal_pin_config_alt(mp_hal_pin_obj_t pin, uint32_t mode, uint32_t pull, u
 void mp_hal_pin_config_speed(mp_hal_pin_obj_t pin_obj, uint32_t speed);
 void extint_register_pin(const pin_obj_t *pin, uint32_t mode, bool hard_irq, mp_obj_t callback_obj);
 
+mp_obj_base_t *mp_hal_get_spi_obj(mp_obj_t spi_in);
+
 enum {
     MP_HAL_MAC_WLAN0 = 0,
     MP_HAL_MAC_WLAN1,
diff --git a/ports/stm32/spi.c b/ports/stm32/spi.c
index 188376ec06..9c031cad2e 100644
--- a/ports/stm32/spi.c
+++ b/ports/stm32/spi.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "py/runtime.h"
 #include "py/mphal.h"
 #include "spi.h"
+#include "extmod/machine_spi.h"
 
 // Possible DMA configurations for SPI buses:
 // SPI1_TX: DMA2_Stream3.CHANNEL_3 or DMA2_Stream5.CHANNEL_3
@@ -685,6 +686,20 @@ const spi_t *spi_from_mp_obj(mp_obj_t o) {
     }
 }
 
+mp_obj_base_t *mp_hal_get_spi_obj(mp_obj_t o) {
+    if (mp_obj_is_type(o, &machine_hard_spi_type)) {
+        return MP_OBJ_TO_PTR(o);
+    }
+    #if MICROPY_PY_MACHINE_SOFTSPI
+    else if (mp_obj_is_type(o, &mp_machine_soft_spi_type)) {
+        return MP_OBJ_TO_PTR(o);
+    }
+    #endif
+    else {
+        mp_raise_TypeError(MP_ERROR_TEXT("expecting an SPI object"));
+    }
+}
+
 /******************************************************************************/
 // Implementation of low-level SPI C protocol