diff --git a/extmod/modnetwork.c b/extmod/modnetwork.c
index e05bfdb11d..b698ee4cf4 100644
--- a/extmod/modnetwork.c
+++ b/extmod/modnetwork.c
@@ -163,4 +163,6 @@ mp_obj_t mod_network_nic_ifconfig(struct netif *netif, size_t n_args, const mp_o
 
 #endif
 
+MP_REGISTER_ROOT_POINTER(mp_obj_list_t mod_network_nic_list);
+
 #endif  // MICROPY_PY_NETWORK
diff --git a/ports/mimxrt/mpconfigport.h b/ports/mimxrt/mpconfigport.h
index 3bff3e474d..0603d82166 100644
--- a/ports/mimxrt/mpconfigport.h
+++ b/ports/mimxrt/mpconfigport.h
@@ -244,8 +244,6 @@ extern const struct _mp_obj_type_t network_lan_type;
 #define MICROPY_PORT_ROOT_POINTERS \
     struct _machine_timer_obj_t *timer_table[MICROPY_HW_PIT_NUM_CHANNELS]; \
     void *machine_pin_irq_objects[MICROPY_HW_NUM_PIN_IRQS]; \
-    /* list of registered NICs */ \
-    mp_obj_list_t mod_network_nic_list; \
     /* root pointers defined by a board */ \
     MICROPY_BOARD_ROOT_POINTERS \
 
diff --git a/ports/renesas-ra/mpconfigport.h b/ports/renesas-ra/mpconfigport.h
index 11b106999a..badcce8e6f 100644
--- a/ports/renesas-ra/mpconfigport.h
+++ b/ports/renesas-ra/mpconfigport.h
@@ -185,9 +185,6 @@
     /* pointers to all UART objects (if they have been created) */ \
     struct _machine_uart_obj_t *machine_uart_obj_all[MICROPY_HW_MAX_UART + MICROPY_HW_MAX_LPUART]; \
     \
-    /* list of registered NICs */ \
-    /* mp_obj_list_t mod_network_nic_list; */ \
-    \
     /* root pointers for sub-systems */ \
     \
     /* root pointers defined by a board */ \
diff --git a/ports/rp2/mpconfigport.h b/ports/rp2/mpconfigport.h
index 8b7cb7ca42..182a3db02d 100644
--- a/ports/rp2/mpconfigport.h
+++ b/ports/rp2/mpconfigport.h
@@ -135,12 +135,6 @@
 #define MICROPY_BOARD_ENTER_BOOTLOADER(nargs, args)
 #endif
 
-#if MICROPY_PY_NETWORK
-#define NETWORK_ROOT_POINTERS               mp_obj_list_t mod_network_nic_list;
-#else
-#define NETWORK_ROOT_POINTERS
-#endif
-
 #if MICROPY_PY_BLUETOOTH
 #define MICROPY_PORT_ROOT_POINTER_BLUETOOTH struct _machine_uart_obj_t *mp_bthci_uart;
 #else
@@ -227,7 +221,6 @@ extern const struct _mod_network_nic_type_t mod_network_nic_type_wiznet5k;
     void *rp2_uart_rx_buffer[2]; \
     void *rp2_uart_tx_buffer[2]; \
     void *machine_i2s_obj[2]; \
-    NETWORK_ROOT_POINTERS \
     MICROPY_BOARD_ROOT_POINTERS \
     MICROPY_PORT_ROOT_POINTER_BLUETOOTH \
 
diff --git a/ports/stm32/mpconfigport.h b/ports/stm32/mpconfigport.h
index bf7183a81d..83986296c9 100644
--- a/ports/stm32/mpconfigport.h
+++ b/ports/stm32/mpconfigport.h
@@ -272,9 +272,6 @@ extern const struct _mod_network_nic_type_t mod_network_nic_type_cc3k;
     /* USB_VCP IRQ callbacks (if they have been set) */ \
     mp_obj_t pyb_usb_vcp_irq[MICROPY_HW_USB_CDC_NUM]; \
     \
-    /* list of registered NICs */ \
-    mp_obj_list_t mod_network_nic_list; \
-    \
     /* root pointers defined by a board */ \
         MICROPY_BOARD_ROOT_POINTERS \