diff --git a/src/rp2_common/pico_flash/flash.c b/src/rp2_common/pico_flash/flash.c
index 528ef620c..bbed20806 100644
--- a/src/rp2_common/pico_flash/flash.c
+++ b/src/rp2_common/pico_flash/flash.c
@@ -46,13 +46,6 @@ static flash_safety_helper_t default_flash_safety_helper = {
         .exit_safe_zone_timeout_ms = default_exit_safe_zone_timeout_ms
 };
 
-#if PICO_FLASH_SAFE_EXECUTE_PICO_SUPPORT_MULTICORE_LOCKOUT
-// note that these are not reset by core reset, however for now, I think people resetting cores
-// and then doing this again without re-initializing pico_flash for that core, is probably
-// something we can live with breaking.
-static bool core_initialized[NUM_CORES];
-#endif
-
 #if PICO_FLASH_SAFE_EXECUTE_USE_FREERTOS_SMP
 enum {
     FREERTOS_LOCKOUT_NONE = 0,
@@ -105,7 +98,6 @@ static bool default_core_init_deinit(__unused bool init) {
         return false;
     }
     multicore_lockout_victim_init();
-    core_initialized[get_core_num()] = init;
 #endif
     return true;
 }
@@ -182,7 +174,7 @@ static int default_enter_safe_zone_timeout_ms(__unused uint32_t timeout_ms) {
 #endif
         rc = PICO_ERROR_NOT_PERMITTED;
 #else // !LIB_FREERTOS_KERNEL
-        if (core_initialized[get_core_num()^1]) {
+        if (multicore_lockout_victim_is_initialized(get_core_num()^1)) {
             if (!multicore_lockout_start_timeout_us(timeout_ms * 1000ull)) {
                 rc = PICO_ERROR_TIMEOUT;
             }
diff --git a/src/rp2_common/pico_multicore/include/pico/multicore.h b/src/rp2_common/pico_multicore/include/pico/multicore.h
index 6f12f412b..8a9a2a8c0 100644
--- a/src/rp2_common/pico_multicore/include/pico/multicore.h
+++ b/src/rp2_common/pico_multicore/include/pico/multicore.h
@@ -257,6 +257,18 @@ static inline uint32_t multicore_fifo_get_status(void) {
  */
 void multicore_lockout_victim_init(void);
 
+/*! \brief Determine if \ref multicore_victim_init() has been called on the specified core.
+ *  \ingroup multicore_lockout
+ *
+ * \note this state persists even if the core is subsequently reset; therefore you are advised to
+ * always call \ref multicore_lockout_victim_init() again after resetting a core, which had previously
+ * been initialized.
+ *
+ * \param core_num the core number (0 or 1)
+ * \return true if \ref multicore_victim_init() has been called on the specified core, false otherwise.
+ */
+bool multicore_lockout_victim_is_initialized(uint core_num);
+
 /*! \brief Request the other core to pause in a known state and wait for it to do so
  *  \ingroup multicore_lockout
  *
diff --git a/src/rp2_common/pico_multicore/multicore.c b/src/rp2_common/pico_multicore/multicore.c
index 1dc1ba303..9c2e29df0 100644
--- a/src/rp2_common/pico_multicore/multicore.c
+++ b/src/rp2_common/pico_multicore/multicore.c
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@
 #include "pico/runtime.h"
 #endif
 
+// note that these are not reset by core reset, however for now, I think people resetting cores
+// and then relying on multicore_lockout for that core without re-initializing, is probably
+// something we can live with breaking.
+//
+// whilst we could clear this in core 1 reset path, that doesn't necessarily catch all,
+// and means pulling in this array even if multicore_lockout is not used.
+static bool lockout_victim_initialized[NUM_CORES];
+
 static inline void multicore_fifo_push_blocking_inline(uint32_t data) {
     // We wait for the fifo to have some space
     while (!multicore_fifo_wready())
@@ -201,6 +209,7 @@ void multicore_lockout_victim_init(void) {
     uint core_num = get_core_num();
     irq_set_exclusive_handler(SIO_IRQ_PROC0 + core_num, multicore_lockout_handler);
     irq_set_enabled(SIO_IRQ_PROC0 + core_num, true);
+    lockout_victim_initialized[core_num] = true;
 }
 
 static bool multicore_lockout_handshake(uint32_t magic, absolute_time_t until) {
@@ -268,6 +277,10 @@ bool multicore_lockout_end_timeout_us(uint64_t timeout_us) {
     return multicore_lockout_end_block_until(make_timeout_time_us(timeout_us));
 }
 
-void multicore_lockout_end_blocking() {
+void multicore_lockout_end_blocking(void) {
     multicore_lockout_end_block_until(at_the_end_of_time);
 }
+
+bool multicore_lockout_victim_is_initialized(uint core_num) {
+    return lockout_victim_initialized[core_num];
+}
\ No newline at end of file