diff --git a/lib/utils/pyexec.c b/lib/utils/pyexec.c
index f4e6856e5..946a97a00 100644
--- a/lib/utils/pyexec.c
+++ b/lib/utils/pyexec.c
@@ -541,6 +541,14 @@ int pyexec_file(const char *filename) {
     return parse_compile_execute(filename, MP_PARSE_FILE_INPUT, EXEC_FLAG_SOURCE_IS_FILENAME);
 }
 
+int pyexec_file_if_exists(const char *filename) {
+    mp_import_stat_t stat = mp_import_stat(filename);
+    if (stat != MP_IMPORT_STAT_FILE) {
+        return 1; // success (no file is the same as an empty file executing without fail)
+    }
+    return pyexec_file(filename);
+}
+
 #if MICROPY_MODULE_FROZEN
 int pyexec_frozen_module(const char *name) {
     void *frozen_data;
diff --git a/lib/utils/pyexec.h b/lib/utils/pyexec.h
index a0d0b52b1..9eb490be5 100644
--- a/lib/utils/pyexec.h
+++ b/lib/utils/pyexec.h
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ extern int pyexec_system_exit;
 int pyexec_raw_repl(void);
 int pyexec_friendly_repl(void);
 int pyexec_file(const char *filename);
+int pyexec_file_if_exists(const char *filename);
 int pyexec_frozen_module(const char *name);
 void pyexec_event_repl_init(void);
 int pyexec_event_repl_process_char(int c);