diff --git a/esp8266/mpconfigport.h b/esp8266/mpconfigport.h
index 8567af47b281cf5c6e1853c32ad7a666e176a12e..f7df4357735359ea714412e628a0dc686026d9b2 100644
--- a/esp8266/mpconfigport.h
+++ b/esp8266/mpconfigport.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #define MICROPY_DEBUG_PRINTER_DEST  mp_debug_print
 #define MICROPY_READER_VFS          (MICROPY_VFS)
 #define MICROPY_ENABLE_GC           (1)
+#define MICROPY_ENABLE_FINALISER    (1)
 #define MICROPY_STACK_CHECK         (1)
 #define MICROPY_ENABLE_EMERGENCY_EXCEPTION_BUF (1)
 #define MICROPY_KBD_EXCEPTION       (1)