diff --git a/pico-scroll/app.py b/pico-scroll/app.py
index 0697abe..011ce17 100644
--- a/pico-scroll/app.py
+++ b/pico-scroll/app.py
@@ -279,9 +279,28 @@ LETTERS = {
 }
 
 # ============================== APP ==============================
+def _make_i2c():
+    # The Pico Scroll Pack has NO external I2C pull-up resistors - it relies on the RP2040's
+    # *internal* pull-ups (Pimoroni's C++ calls gpio_pull_up()). CircuitPython's busio.I2C
+    # refuses with "No pull up found on SDA or SCL" unless those internal pulls are on, so:
+    #   1) pre-enable the internal pull-ups on the pads, then try the fast hardware busio;
+    #   2) if that still won't init, fall back to bitbangio, which drives the lines using the
+    #      internal pulls inherently (slower, but always works on a pull-up-less board).
+    try:
+        for p in (P_SDA, P_SCL):
+            d = digitalio.DigitalInOut(p); d.switch_to_input(pull=digitalio.Pull.UP); d.deinit()
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+    try:
+        return busio.I2C(P_SCL, P_SDA, frequency=400_000)
+    except Exception as e:
+        print("busio I2C unavailable (%s) - using bitbangio" % e)
+        import bitbangio
+        return bitbangio.I2C(P_SCL, P_SDA, frequency=400_000)
+
 class App:
     def __init__(self):
-        self.i2c = busio.I2C(scl=P_SCL, sda=P_SDA, frequency=400_000)
+        self.i2c = _make_i2c()
         while not self.i2c.try_lock(): pass            # the firmware owns the matrix bus for its lifetime
         self.mtx = Matrix(self.i2c)
         self.midi = usb_midi.ports[1] if (MIDI_ENABLED and usb_midi and len(usb_midi.ports) > 1) else None