diff --git a/usermods/audioreactive/audio_source.h b/usermods/audioreactive/audio_source.h
index 13a00f5b..7101fe09 100644
--- a/usermods/audioreactive/audio_source.h
+++ b/usermods/audioreactive/audio_source.h
@@ -456,6 +456,15 @@ public:
     void initialize(int8_t i2swsPin, int8_t i2ssdPin, int8_t i2sckPin, int8_t mclkPin) {
       // check that pins are valid
 
+       if ((i2c_sda < 0) || (i2c_scl < 0)) {  // check that global I2C pins are not "undefined"
+        ERRORSR_PRINTF("\nAR: invalid ES7243 global I2C pins: SDA=%d, SCL=%d\n", i2c_sda, i2c_scl); 
+        return;
+      }
+      if (!pinManager.joinWire()) {    // WLEDMM specific: start I2C with globally defined pins
+        ERRORSR_PRINTF("\nAR: failed to start I2C bus with SDA=%d, SCL=%d\n", i2c_sda, i2c_scl); 
+        return;
+      }
+
       if ((i2sckPin < 0) || (mclkPin < 0)) {
         ERRORSR_PRINTF("\nAR: invalid I2S pin: SCK=%d, MCLK=%d\n", i2sckPin, mclkPin); 
         return;
@@ -574,6 +583,15 @@ class ES8388Source : public I2SSource {
 
     void initialize(int8_t i2swsPin, int8_t i2ssdPin, int8_t i2sckPin, int8_t mclkPin) {
 
+       if ((i2c_sda < 0) || (i2c_scl < 0)) {  // check that global I2C pins are not "undefined"
+        ERRORSR_PRINTF("\nAR: invalid ES8388 global I2C pins: SDA=%d, SCL=%d\n", i2c_sda, i2c_scl); 
+        return;
+      }
+      if (!pinManager.joinWire()) {    // WLEDMM specific: start I2C with globally defined pins
+        ERRORSR_PRINTF("\nAR: failed to start I2C bus with SDA=%d, SCL=%d\n", i2c_sda, i2c_scl); 
+        return;
+      }
+
       if ((i2sckPin < 0) || (mclkPin < 0)) {
         ERRORSR_PRINTF("\nAR: invalid I2S pin: SCK=%d, MCLK=%d\n", i2sckPin, mclkPin); 
         return;