diff --git a/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.cpp b/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.cpp
index 89a312e74..eafba230c 100644
--- a/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.cpp
+++ b/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,14 @@ extern "C" {
 
 static Turtle sTurtle;
 
+mp_obj_t modturtle___init__() {
+  sTurtle = Turtle();
+  /* Note: we don't even bother writing a destructor for Turtle because this
+   * init function is called once, and only once, per MicroPython init cycle.
+   * When the previous Turtle object is destroyed, its VM is long gone. */
+  return mp_const_none;
+}
+
 mp_obj_t modturtle_forward(mp_obj_t px) {
   sTurtle.forward(mp_obj_get_float(px));
   return mp_const_none;
diff --git a/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.h b/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.h
index db4a8bfab..2810df6e2 100644
--- a/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.h
+++ b/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle.h
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #include <py/obj.h>
 
+mp_obj_t modturtle___init__();
+
 mp_obj_t modturtle_forward(mp_obj_t px);
 mp_obj_t modturtle_backward(mp_obj_t px);
 mp_obj_t modturtle_right(mp_obj_t deg);
diff --git a/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle_table.c b/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle_table.c
index 0bd8da879..f58e28235 100644
--- a/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle_table.c
+++ b/python/port/mod/turtle/modturtle_table.c
@@ -22,8 +22,11 @@ STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_0(modturtle_showturtle_obj, modturtle_showturtle)
 STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_0(modturtle_hideturtle_obj, modturtle_hideturtle);
 STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_0(modturtle_isvisible_obj, modturtle_isvisible);
 
+STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_0(modturtle___init___obj, modturtle___init__);
+
 STATIC const mp_rom_map_elem_t modturtle_module_globals_table[] = {
   { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR___name__), MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_turtle) },
+  { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR___init__), (mp_obj_t)&modturtle___init___obj },
   { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_forward), (mp_obj_t)&modturtle_forward_obj },
   { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_fd), (mp_obj_t)&modturtle_forward_obj },
   { MP_ROM_QSTR(MP_QSTR_backward), (mp_obj_t)&modturtle_backward_obj },
diff --git a/python/port/mpconfigport.h b/python/port/mpconfigport.h
index 008dd23e7..681b3b6b5 100644
--- a/python/port/mpconfigport.h
+++ b/python/port/mpconfigport.h
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@
 // add bunch of once-off options. May need refactoring later
 #define MICROPY_CPYTHON_COMPAT (0)
 
+// modturtle needs a hook upon init
+#define MICROPY_MODULE_BUILTIN_INIT (1)
+
 // Support for async/await/async for/async with
 #define MICROPY_PY_ASYNC_AWAIT (0)