diff --git a/CMakePresets.json b/CMakePresets.json
index 94922e20f3..53a793c84c 100644
--- a/CMakePresets.json
+++ b/CMakePresets.json
@@ -431,6 +431,7 @@
             "cacheVariables": {
                 "SDK_CONFIG_FILE": "sdkconfig.default_pico",
                 "TARGET_SERIAL_BAUDRATE": "115200",
+                "ESP32_RESERVED_RAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION": "10",
                 "NF_BUILD_RTM": "OFF",
                 "NF_FEATURE_DEBUGGER": "ON",
                 "NF_FEATURE_RTC": "ON",
@@ -564,6 +565,7 @@
             "hidden": true,
             "cacheVariables": {
                 "SDK_CONFIG_FILE": "",
+                "ESP32_RESERVED_RAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION": "10",
                 "NF_BUILD_RTM": "OFF",
                 "NF_FEATURE_DEBUGGER": "ON",
                 "NF_FEATURE_RTC": "ON",
@@ -574,7 +576,7 @@
                 "API_System.IO.FileSystem": "ON",
                 "API_nanoFramework.Device.OneWire": "ON"
             }
-        },       
+        },
         {
             "name": "LilygoTWatch2020_preset",
             "inherits": [
@@ -637,13 +639,13 @@
                 "ESP32_ETHERNET_SUPPORT": "ON",
                 "ESP32_ETHERNET_INTERFACE": "IP101",
                 "ETH_PHY_RST_GPIO": "5",
-                "ETH_RMII_CLK_IN_GPIO" : "0",
+                "ETH_RMII_CLK_IN_GPIO": "0",
                 "ETH_PHY_ADDR": "1",
                 "API_System.IO.FileSystem": "ON",
                 "API_nanoFramework.Device.OneWire": "ON",
                 "API_nanoFramework.Device.Bluetooth": "ON"
             }
-        },        
+        },
         {
             "name": "ESP32_WT32_ETH01_preset",
             "inherits": [
@@ -658,13 +660,13 @@
                 "NF_FEATURE_RTC": "ON",
                 "NF_FEATURE_HAS_SDCARD": "ON",
                 "ESP32_ETHERNET_SUPPORT": "ON",
-                "ETH_RMII_CLK_IN_GPIO" : "0",
-                "ETH_PHY_ADDR":"1",
+                "ETH_RMII_CLK_IN_GPIO": "0",
+                "ETH_PHY_ADDR": "1",
                 "ETH_PHY_RST_GPIO": "16",
                 "API_System.IO.FileSystem": "ON",
                 "API_nanoFramework.Device.OneWire": "ON"
             }
-        },        
+        },
         {
             "name": "ESP32_WESP32_preset",
             "inherits": [
@@ -674,19 +676,20 @@
             "hidden": true,
             "cacheVariables": {
                 "SDK_CONFIG_FILE": "",
+                "ESP32_RESERVED_RAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION": "10",
                 "NF_BUILD_RTM": "OFF",
                 "NF_FEATURE_DEBUGGER": "ON",
                 "NF_FEATURE_RTC": "ON",
                 "NF_FEATURE_HAS_SDCARD": "ON",
                 "ESP32_ETHERNET_SUPPORT": "ON",
                 "ESP32_ETHERNET_INTERFACE": "RTL8201",
-                "ETH_RMII_CLK_IN_GPIO" : "0",
-                "ETH_MDIO_GPIO":"17",
+                "ETH_RMII_CLK_IN_GPIO": "0",
+                "ETH_MDIO_GPIO": "17",
                 "ETH_MDC_GPIO": "16",
                 "API_System.IO.FileSystem": "ON",
                 "API_nanoFramework.Device.OneWire": "ON"
             }
-        },        
+        },
         {
             "name": "M5StickC_preset",
             "inherits": [
@@ -696,6 +699,7 @@
             "hidden": true,
             "cacheVariables": {
                 "SDK_CONFIG_FILE": "sdkconfig.default_pico",
+                "ESP32_RESERVED_RAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION": "10",
                 "NF_BUILD_RTM": "OFF",
                 "NF_FEATURE_DEBUGGER": "ON",
                 "TARGET_SERIAL_BAUDRATE": "115200",
diff --git a/targets/ESP32/CMakeLists.txt b/targets/ESP32/CMakeLists.txt
index dda45dc36f..26ca3467e8 100644
--- a/targets/ESP32/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/targets/ESP32/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -9,6 +9,13 @@ include(binutils.ESP32)
 # Set target series in lower case
 nf_set_esp32_target_series()
 
+# option to reserve RAM for IDF allocator
+option(ESP32_RESERVED_RAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION "Reserved RAM for IDF allocation (in kBytes)")
+if(NOT (ESP32_RESERVED_RAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION EQUAL OFF))
+    unset(ESP32_RESERVED_RAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION CACHE)
+    set(ESP32_RESERVED_RAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION "0" CACHE STRING "Setting default value for ESP32_RESERVED_RAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION")
+endif()
+
 # Define PLATFORM base path
 set(BASE_PATH_FOR_PLATFORM ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR} PARENT_SCOPE)
 
diff --git a/targets/ESP32/_nanoCLR/Memory.cpp b/targets/ESP32/_nanoCLR/Memory.cpp
index 9444208117..967fe14746 100644
--- a/targets/ESP32/_nanoCLR/Memory.cpp
+++ b/targets/ESP32/_nanoCLR/Memory.cpp
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ static const char *TAG = "Memory";
 #define INTERNAL_RAM_LEAVE_FREE_FOR_ALLOCATION (30 * 1024)
 #else
 // Space to leave free in internal RAM for allocation by IDF malloc
-// We leave 10K free to allow room for Wifi initialisation
-#define INTERNAL_RAM_LEAVE_FREE_FOR_ALLOCATION (10 * 1024)
+#define INTERNAL_RAM_LEAVE_FREE_FOR_ALLOCATION (ESP32_RESERVED_RAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION * 1024)
 #endif
 
 // Saved memory allocation for when heap is reset so we can return same value.
diff --git a/targets/ESP32/_nanoCLR/target_platform.h.in b/targets/ESP32/_nanoCLR/target_platform.h.in
index 7eab55c53c..5d63884561 100644
--- a/targets/ESP32/_nanoCLR/target_platform.h.in
+++ b/targets/ESP32/_nanoCLR/target_platform.h.in
@@ -8,11 +8,12 @@
 
 #include "esp32_ethernet_options.h"
 
-#define NANOCLR_GRAPHICS                @NANOCLR_GRAPHICS@
-#define ESP32_SPIRAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION @ESP32_SPIRAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION@
-#define HAL_USE_SPI                     @HAL_USE_SPI_OPTION@
-#define HAL_USE_SDC                     @HAL_USE_SDC_OPTION@
-#define HAL_USE_BLE                     @HAL_USE_BLE_OPTION@
+#define NANOCLR_GRAPHICS                      @NANOCLR_GRAPHICS@
+#define ESP32_SPIRAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION       @ESP32_SPIRAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION@
+#define ESP32_RESERVED_RAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION @ESP32_RESERVED_RAM_FOR_IDF_ALLOCATION@
+#define HAL_USE_SPI                           @HAL_USE_SPI_OPTION@
+#define HAL_USE_SDC                           @HAL_USE_SDC_OPTION@
+#define HAL_USE_BLE                           @HAL_USE_BLE_OPTION@
 
 #if (HAL_USE_SDC == TRUE)
 #define SDC_MAX_OPEN_FILES 5