diff --git a/docs/library/esp32.rst b/docs/library/esp32.rst
index 856d9aef8d0d..d6b4051a2fa2 100644
--- a/docs/library/esp32.rst
+++ b/docs/library/esp32.rst
@@ -114,6 +114,11 @@ methods to enable over-the-air (OTA) updates.
 
     Sets the partition as the boot partition.
 
+    .. note:: Do not enter :func:`deepsleep<machine.deepsleep>` after changing
+       the OTA boot partition, without first performing a hard
+       :func:`reset<machine.reset>` or power cycle. This ensures the bootloader
+       will validate the new image before booting.
+
 .. method:: Partition.get_next_update()
 
     Gets the next update partition after this one, and returns a new Partition object.
diff --git a/ports/esp32/boards/sdkconfig.base b/ports/esp32/boards/sdkconfig.base
index 7443b34aa78f..4b7c852332da 100644
--- a/ports/esp32/boards/sdkconfig.base
+++ b/ports/esp32/boards/sdkconfig.base
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ CONFIG_APP_EXCLUDE_PROJECT_NAME_VAR=y
 
 # Bootloader config
 CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_LOG_LEVEL_WARN=y
+CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_SKIP_VALIDATE_IN_DEEP_SLEEP=y
 
 # Change default log level to "ERROR" (instead of "INFO")
 CONFIG_LOG_DEFAULT_LEVEL_INFO=n