diff --git a/docs/feature_led_indicators.md b/docs/feature_led_indicators.md
index a2a2e17c6f..d89562a377 100644
--- a/docs/feature_led_indicators.md
+++ b/docs/feature_led_indicators.md
@@ -101,6 +101,13 @@ The `host_keyboard_led_state()` function will report the LED state returned from
 bool caps = host_keyboard_led_state().caps_lock;
 ```
 
+## `led_update_ports()`
+
+This function writes the LED state to the actual hardware. Call it manually
+from your `led_update_*()` callbacks to modify the handling of the standard
+keyboard LEDs.
+For example when repurposing a standard LED indicator as layer indicator.
+
 ## Setting Physical LED State
 
 Some keyboard implementations provide convenient methods for setting the state of the physical LEDs.
diff --git a/quantum/led.c b/quantum/led.c
index 444d38f751..7db38bb88c 100644
--- a/quantum/led.c
+++ b/quantum/led.c
@@ -92,32 +92,36 @@ __attribute__((weak)) bool led_update_user(led_t led_state) {
 __attribute__((weak)) bool led_update_kb(led_t led_state) {
     bool res = led_update_user(led_state);
     if (res) {
-#if defined(LED_NUM_LOCK_PIN) || defined(LED_CAPS_LOCK_PIN) || defined(LED_SCROLL_LOCK_PIN) || defined(LED_COMPOSE_PIN) || defined(LED_KANA_PIN)
-#    if LED_PIN_ON_STATE == 0
-        // invert the whole thing to avoid having to conditionally !led_state.x later
-        led_state.raw = ~led_state.raw;
-#    endif
-
-#    ifdef LED_NUM_LOCK_PIN
-        writePin(LED_NUM_LOCK_PIN, led_state.num_lock);
-#    endif
-#    ifdef LED_CAPS_LOCK_PIN
-        writePin(LED_CAPS_LOCK_PIN, led_state.caps_lock);
-#    endif
-#    ifdef LED_SCROLL_LOCK_PIN
-        writePin(LED_SCROLL_LOCK_PIN, led_state.scroll_lock);
-#    endif
-#    ifdef LED_COMPOSE_PIN
-        writePin(LED_COMPOSE_PIN, led_state.compose);
-#    endif
-#    ifdef LED_KANA_PIN
-        writePin(LED_KANA_PIN, led_state.kana);
-#    endif
-#endif
+        led_update_ports(led_state);
     }
     return res;
 }
 
+/** \brief Write LED state to hardware
+ */
+__attribute__((weak)) void led_update_ports(led_t led_state) {
+#if LED_PIN_ON_STATE == 0
+    // invert the whole thing to avoid having to conditionally !led_state.x later
+    led_state.raw = ~led_state.raw;
+#endif
+
+#ifdef LED_NUM_LOCK_PIN
+    writePin(LED_NUM_LOCK_PIN, led_state.num_lock);
+#endif
+#ifdef LED_CAPS_LOCK_PIN
+    writePin(LED_CAPS_LOCK_PIN, led_state.caps_lock);
+#endif
+#ifdef LED_SCROLL_LOCK_PIN
+    writePin(LED_SCROLL_LOCK_PIN, led_state.scroll_lock);
+#endif
+#ifdef LED_COMPOSE_PIN
+    writePin(LED_COMPOSE_PIN, led_state.compose);
+#endif
+#ifdef LED_KANA_PIN
+    writePin(LED_KANA_PIN, led_state.kana);
+#endif
+}
+
 /** \brief Initialise any LED related hardware and/or state
  */
 __attribute__((weak)) void led_init_ports(void) {
diff --git a/quantum/led.h b/quantum/led.h
index b8262cbd8e..d12e519ea2 100644
--- a/quantum/led.h
+++ b/quantum/led.h
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ void led_set_user(uint8_t usb_led);
 void led_set_kb(uint8_t usb_led);
 bool led_update_user(led_t led_state);
 bool led_update_kb(led_t led_state);
+void led_update_ports(led_t led_state);
 
 uint32_t last_led_activity_time(void);    // Timestamp of the LED activity
 uint32_t last_led_activity_elapsed(void); // Number of milliseconds since the last LED activity