diff --git a/RF24.cpp b/RF24.cpp
index 3b923b25..c2a0499f 100644
--- a/RF24.cpp
+++ b/RF24.cpp
@@ -993,6 +993,9 @@ bool RF24::begin(void)
     _spi->begin(csn_pin);
 
 #elif defined(RF24_RP2)
+    if (_spi != nullptr) {
+        delete _spi;
+    }
     _spi = new SPI();
     _spi->begin(PICO_DEFAULT_SPI ? spi1 : spi0);