diff --git a/devices/ble_hci/common-hal/_bleio/PacketBuffer.c b/devices/ble_hci/common-hal/_bleio/PacketBuffer.c
index 97626205a62ff..771a1509f3924 100644
--- a/devices/ble_hci/common-hal/_bleio/PacketBuffer.c
+++ b/devices/ble_hci/common-hal/_bleio/PacketBuffer.c
@@ -247,3 +247,7 @@ void common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_deinit(bleio_packet_buffer_obj_t *self) {
         ringbuf_deinit(&self->ringbuf);
     }
 }
+
+bool common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_connected(bleio_packet_buffer_obj_t *self) {
+    return !common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_deinited(self) && self->conn_handle != BLE_CONN_HANDLE_INVALID;
+}
diff --git a/ports/espressif/common-hal/_bleio/PacketBuffer.c b/ports/espressif/common-hal/_bleio/PacketBuffer.c
index a6cbdc5306991..1cc167cb5c80d 100644
--- a/ports/espressif/common-hal/_bleio/PacketBuffer.c
+++ b/ports/espressif/common-hal/_bleio/PacketBuffer.c
@@ -440,3 +440,7 @@ void common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_deinit(bleio_packet_buffer_obj_t *self) {
     ble_event_remove_handler(packet_buffer_on_ble_client_evt, self);
     ringbuf_deinit(&self->ringbuf);
 }
+
+bool common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_connected(bleio_packet_buffer_obj_t *self) {
+    return !common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_deinited(self) && self->conn_handle != BLEIO_HANDLE_INVALID;
+}
diff --git a/ports/nordic/common-hal/_bleio/PacketBuffer.c b/ports/nordic/common-hal/_bleio/PacketBuffer.c
index f3058f6c23d9c..db4307279ae10 100644
--- a/ports/nordic/common-hal/_bleio/PacketBuffer.c
+++ b/ports/nordic/common-hal/_bleio/PacketBuffer.c
@@ -485,3 +485,7 @@ void common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_deinit(bleio_packet_buffer_obj_t *self) {
         ringbuf_deinit(&self->ringbuf);
     }
 }
+
+bool common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_connected(bleio_packet_buffer_obj_t *self) {
+    return !common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_deinited(self) && self->conn_handle != BLE_CONN_HANDLE_INVALID;
+}
diff --git a/shared-bindings/_bleio/PacketBuffer.h b/shared-bindings/_bleio/PacketBuffer.h
index e9e642e2677e8..1a872512da27c 100644
--- a/shared-bindings/_bleio/PacketBuffer.h
+++ b/shared-bindings/_bleio/PacketBuffer.h
@@ -35,3 +35,4 @@ mp_int_t common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_get_outgoing_packet_length(bleio_packet_
 void common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_flush(bleio_packet_buffer_obj_t *self);
 bool common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_deinited(bleio_packet_buffer_obj_t *self);
 void common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_deinit(bleio_packet_buffer_obj_t *self);
+bool common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_connected(bleio_packet_buffer_obj_t *self);
diff --git a/supervisor/shared/bluetooth/serial.c b/supervisor/shared/bluetooth/serial.c
index 42c9b4bb3877d..86ff1738a2a85 100644
--- a/supervisor/shared/bluetooth/serial.c
+++ b/supervisor/shared/bluetooth/serial.c
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ void supervisor_stop_bluetooth_serial(void) {
 }
 
 bool ble_serial_connected(void) {
-    return _tx_packet_buffer.conn_handle != BLEIO_HANDLE_INVALID;
+    return common_hal_bleio_packet_buffer_connected(&_tx_packet_buffer);
 }
 
 uint32_t ble_serial_available(void) {