diff --git a/wled00/fcn_declare.h b/wled00/fcn_declare.h
index e86d76c65f..6201a19192 100644
--- a/wled00/fcn_declare.h
+++ b/wled00/fcn_declare.h
@@ -524,10 +524,10 @@ inline size_t getFreeHeapSize() { return ESP.getFreeHeap(); } // returns free he
 inline size_t getContiguousFreeHeap() { return ESP.getMaxFreeBlockSize(); } // returns largest contiguous free block
 #endif
 #define BFRALLOC_NOBYTEACCESS    (1 << 0) // ESP32 has 32bit accessible DRAM (usually ~50kB free) that must not be byte-accessed
-#define BFRALLOC_PREFER_DRAM     (1 << 1) // prefer DRAM over PSRAM
-#define BFRALLOC_ENFORCE_DRAM    (1 << 2) // use DRAM only, no PSRAM
-#define BFRALLOC_PREFER_PSRAM    (1 << 3) // prefer PSRAM over DRAM
-#define BFRALLOC_ENFORCE_PSRAM   (1 << 4) // use PSRAM if available, otherwise uses DRAM
+#define BFRALLOC_PREFER_DRAM     (1 << 1) // prefer DRAM over PSRAM (can still use PSRAM for larger allocations if DRAM is starting to run low)
+#define BFRALLOC_ENFORCE_DRAM    (1 << 2) // use DRAM only, no PSRAM allowed
+#define BFRALLOC_PREFER_PSRAM    (1 << 3) // prefer PSRAM over DRAM (can still use DRAM if there is loads of free DRAM to optimize speed)
+#define BFRALLOC_ENFORCE_PSRAM   (1 << 4) // use PSRAM if available, falls back to DRAM if PSRAM fails
 #define BFRALLOC_CLEAR           (1 << 5) // clear allocated buffer after allocation
 void *allocate_buffer(size_t size, uint32_t type);
 
diff --git a/wled00/util.cpp b/wled00/util.cpp
index 66aaea97fc..a9be0a482c 100644
--- a/wled00/util.cpp
+++ b/wled00/util.cpp
@@ -920,7 +920,7 @@ void *allocate_buffer(size_t size, uint32_t type) {
       buffer = p_malloc(size); // prefer PSRAM
   }
   else if (type & BFRALLOC_ENFORCE_PSRAM)
-    buffer = heap_caps_malloc(size, MALLOC_CAP_SPIRAM | MALLOC_CAP_8BIT); // use PSRAM only, otherwise return nullptr
+    buffer = p_malloc(size); // use PSRAM if available, fall back to DRAM if not (safeguard for boards without PSRAM #5629)
   buffer = validateFreeHeap(buffer);
   #endif
   if (buffer && (type & BFRALLOC_CLEAR))