diff --git a/extmod/btstack/modbluetooth_btstack.c b/extmod/btstack/modbluetooth_btstack.c
index 5f047e3254..9c88878038 100644
--- a/extmod/btstack/modbluetooth_btstack.c
+++ b/extmod/btstack/modbluetooth_btstack.c
@@ -849,6 +849,11 @@ int mp_bluetooth_gap_set_device_name(const uint8_t *buf, size_t len) {
 
 int mp_bluetooth_gap_advertise_start(bool connectable, int32_t interval_us, const uint8_t *adv_data, size_t adv_data_len, const uint8_t *sr_data, size_t sr_data_len) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gap_advertise_start\n");
+
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
+
     uint16_t adv_int_min = interval_us / 625;
     uint16_t adv_int_max = interval_us / 625;
     uint8_t adv_type = connectable ? 0 : 2;
@@ -885,6 +890,11 @@ int mp_bluetooth_gap_advertise_start(bool connectable, int32_t interval_us, cons
 
 void mp_bluetooth_gap_advertise_stop(void) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gap_advertise_stop\n");
+
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     gap_advertisements_enable(false);
     MP_STATE_PORT(bluetooth_btstack_root_pointers)->adv_data_alloc = 0;
     MP_STATE_PORT(bluetooth_btstack_root_pointers)->adv_data = NULL;
@@ -892,6 +902,11 @@ void mp_bluetooth_gap_advertise_stop(void) {
 
 int mp_bluetooth_gatts_register_service_begin(bool append) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gatts_register_service_begin\n");
+
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
+
     if (!append) {
         // This will reset the DB.
         // Becase the DB is statically allocated, there's no problem with just re-initing it.
@@ -1064,16 +1079,27 @@ int mp_bluetooth_gatts_register_service_end(void) {
 
 int mp_bluetooth_gatts_read(uint16_t value_handle, uint8_t **value, size_t *value_len) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gatts_read\n");
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
     return mp_bluetooth_gatts_db_read(MP_STATE_PORT(bluetooth_btstack_root_pointers)->gatts_db, value_handle, value, value_len);
 }
 
 int mp_bluetooth_gatts_write(uint16_t value_handle, const uint8_t *value, size_t value_len) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gatts_write\n");
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
     return mp_bluetooth_gatts_db_write(MP_STATE_PORT(bluetooth_btstack_root_pointers)->gatts_db, value_handle, value, value_len);
 }
 
 int mp_bluetooth_gatts_notify(uint16_t conn_handle, uint16_t value_handle) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gatts_notify\n");
+
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
+
     // Note: btstack doesn't appear to support sending a notification without a value, so include the stored value.
     uint8_t *data = NULL;
     size_t len = 0;
@@ -1084,6 +1110,10 @@ int mp_bluetooth_gatts_notify(uint16_t conn_handle, uint16_t value_handle) {
 int mp_bluetooth_gatts_notify_send(uint16_t conn_handle, uint16_t value_handle, const uint8_t *value, size_t value_len) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gatts_notify_send\n");
 
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
+
     // Attempt to send immediately. If it succeeds, btstack will copy the buffer.
     MICROPY_PY_BLUETOOTH_ENTER
     int err = att_server_notify(conn_handle, value_handle, value, value_len);
@@ -1110,6 +1140,10 @@ int mp_bluetooth_gatts_notify_send(uint16_t conn_handle, uint16_t value_handle,
 int mp_bluetooth_gatts_indicate(uint16_t conn_handle, uint16_t value_handle) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gatts_indicate\n");
 
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
+
     uint8_t *data = NULL;
     size_t len = 0;
     mp_bluetooth_gatts_db_read(MP_STATE_PORT(bluetooth_btstack_root_pointers)->gatts_db, value_handle, &data, &len);
@@ -1142,6 +1176,9 @@ int mp_bluetooth_gatts_indicate(uint16_t conn_handle, uint16_t value_handle) {
 
 int mp_bluetooth_gatts_set_buffer(uint16_t value_handle, size_t len, bool append) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gatts_set_buffer\n");
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
     return mp_bluetooth_gatts_db_resize(MP_STATE_PORT(bluetooth_btstack_root_pointers)->gatts_db, value_handle, len, append);
 }
 
@@ -1165,6 +1202,9 @@ int mp_bluetooth_set_preferred_mtu(uint16_t mtu) {
 
 int mp_bluetooth_gap_disconnect(uint16_t conn_handle) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gap_disconnect\n");
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
     gap_disconnect(conn_handle);
     return 0;
 }
@@ -1195,6 +1235,10 @@ STATIC void scan_duration_timeout_handler(btstack_timer_source_t *ds) {
 int mp_bluetooth_gap_scan_start(int32_t duration_ms, int32_t interval_us, int32_t window_us, bool active_scan) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gap_scan_start\n");
 
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
+
     if (duration_ms > 0) {
         btstack_run_loop_set_timer(&scan_duration_timeout, duration_ms);
         btstack_run_loop_set_timer_handler(&scan_duration_timeout, scan_duration_timeout_handler);
@@ -1209,6 +1253,9 @@ int mp_bluetooth_gap_scan_start(int32_t duration_ms, int32_t interval_us, int32_
 
 int mp_bluetooth_gap_scan_stop(void) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gap_scan_stop\n");
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
     btstack_run_loop_remove_timer(&scan_duration_timeout);
     gap_stop_scan();
     mp_bluetooth_gap_on_scan_complete();
@@ -1240,6 +1287,11 @@ int mp_bluetooth_gap_peripheral_connect(uint8_t addr_type, const uint8_t *addr,
 
 int mp_bluetooth_gattc_discover_primary_services(uint16_t conn_handle, const mp_obj_bluetooth_uuid_t *uuid) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gattc_discover_primary_services\n");
+
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
+
     uint8_t err;
     if (uuid) {
         if (uuid->type == MP_BLUETOOTH_UUID_TYPE_16) {
@@ -1260,6 +1312,11 @@ int mp_bluetooth_gattc_discover_primary_services(uint16_t conn_handle, const mp_
 
 int mp_bluetooth_gattc_discover_characteristics(uint16_t conn_handle, uint16_t start_handle, uint16_t end_handle, const mp_obj_bluetooth_uuid_t *uuid) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gattc_discover_characteristics\n");
+
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
+
     gatt_client_service_t service = {
         // Only start/end handles needed for gatt_client_discover_characteristics_for_service.
         .start_group_handle = start_handle,
@@ -1287,6 +1344,11 @@ int mp_bluetooth_gattc_discover_characteristics(uint16_t conn_handle, uint16_t s
 
 int mp_bluetooth_gattc_discover_descriptors(uint16_t conn_handle, uint16_t start_handle, uint16_t end_handle) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gattc_discover_descriptors\n");
+
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
+
     gatt_client_characteristic_t characteristic = {
         // Only start/end handles needed for gatt_client_discover_characteristic_descriptors.
         .start_handle = start_handle,
@@ -1301,12 +1363,19 @@ int mp_bluetooth_gattc_discover_descriptors(uint16_t conn_handle, uint16_t start
 
 int mp_bluetooth_gattc_read(uint16_t conn_handle, uint16_t value_handle) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gattc_read\n");
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
     return btstack_error_to_errno(gatt_client_read_value_of_characteristic_using_value_handle(&btstack_packet_handler_read, conn_handle, value_handle));
 }
 
 int mp_bluetooth_gattc_write(uint16_t conn_handle, uint16_t value_handle, const uint8_t *value, size_t *value_len, unsigned int mode) {
     DEBUG_printf("mp_bluetooth_gattc_write\n");
 
+    if (!mp_bluetooth_is_active()) {
+        return ERRNO_BLUETOOTH_NOT_ACTIVE;
+    }
+
     // We should be distinguishing between gatt_client_write_value_of_characteristic vs
     // gatt_client_write_characteristic_descriptor_using_descriptor_handle.
     // However both are implemented using send_gatt_write_attribute_value_request under the hood,