diff --git a/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp b/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp
index 027c6aaa1..7f10b3848 100644
--- a/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp
+++ b/wled00/FX_fcn.cpp
@@ -1217,7 +1217,7 @@ void WS2812FX::finalizeInit() {
   }
   DEBUG_PRINTF_P(PSTR("Maximum LEDs on a bus: %u\nDigital buses: %u\n"), maxLedsOnBus, digitalCount);
   // we may remove 600 LEDs per bus limit when NeoPixelBus is updated beyond 2.8.3
-  if (maxLedsOnBus <= 600 && useParallelI2S) BusManager::useParallelOutput(); // must call before creating buses
+  if (digitalCount > 1 && maxLedsOnBus <= 600 && useParallelI2S) BusManager::useParallelOutput(); // must call before creating buses
   else useParallelI2S = false; // enforce single I2S
   digitalCount = 0;
   #endif
diff --git a/wled00/wled.h b/wled00/wled.h
index 9459080e8..58e962f3f 100644
--- a/wled00/wled.h
+++ b/wled00/wled.h
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ WLED_GLOBAL bool useGlobalLedBuffer _INIT(false); // double buffering disabled o
 #else
 WLED_GLOBAL bool useGlobalLedBuffer _INIT(true);  // double buffering enabled on ESP32
   #ifndef CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32C3
-WLED_GLOBAL bool useParallelI2S     _INIT(false); // parallel I2S for ESP32
+WLED_GLOBAL bool useParallelI2S     _INIT(true); // parallel I2S for ESP32
   #endif
 #endif
 #ifdef WLED_USE_IC_CCT