diff --git a/features/nanostack/FEATURE_NANOSTACK/mbed-mesh-api/README.md b/features/nanostack/FEATURE_NANOSTACK/mbed-mesh-api/README.md
index 24aed7d7a9..eb50e73fb9 100644
--- a/features/nanostack/FEATURE_NANOSTACK/mbed-mesh-api/README.md
+++ b/features/nanostack/FEATURE_NANOSTACK/mbed-mesh-api/README.md
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ An example of the configuration file:
 | Parameter name  | Value         | Description |
 | --------------- | ------------- | ----------- |
 | heap-size       | number [0-0xfffe] | Nanostack's internal heap size |
+| use-malloc-for-heap | `false` or `true` | Use `malloc()` for reserving the internal heap. Default: `false` |
 
 ### Thread related configuration parameters
 
diff --git a/features/nanostack/FEATURE_NANOSTACK/mbed-mesh-api/mbed_lib.json b/features/nanostack/FEATURE_NANOSTACK/mbed-mesh-api/mbed_lib.json
index d668e2261d..c9401e662c 100644
--- a/features/nanostack/FEATURE_NANOSTACK/mbed-mesh-api/mbed_lib.json
+++ b/features/nanostack/FEATURE_NANOSTACK/mbed-mesh-api/mbed_lib.json
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
     "name": "mbed-mesh-api",
     "config": {
         "heap-size": 32500,
+        "use-malloc-for-heap": false,
         "6lowpan-nd-channel-mask": "(1<<12)",
         "6lowpan-nd-channel-page": 0,
         "6lowpan-nd-channel": 12,
diff --git a/features/nanostack/FEATURE_NANOSTACK/mbed-mesh-api/source/mesh_system.c b/features/nanostack/FEATURE_NANOSTACK/mbed-mesh-api/source/mesh_system.c
index a9505ad434..c87d7d3772 100644
--- a/features/nanostack/FEATURE_NANOSTACK/mbed-mesh-api/source/mesh_system.c
+++ b/features/nanostack/FEATURE_NANOSTACK/mbed-mesh-api/source/mesh_system.c
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include "eventOS_scheduler.h"
 #include "eventOS_event.h"
 #include "net_interface.h"
@@ -22,13 +23,18 @@
 #include "platform/arm_hal_timer.h"
 #include "ns_hal_init.h"
 #include "include/mesh_system.h"
+#include "mbed_assert.h"
 // For tracing we need to define flag, have include and define group
 #define HAVE_DEBUG 1
 #include "ns_trace.h"
 #define TRACE_GROUP  "m6-mesh-system"
 
 /* Heap for NanoStack */
+#if !MBED_CONF_MBED_MESH_API_USE_MALLOC_FOR_HEAP
 static uint8_t app_stack_heap[MBED_CONF_MBED_MESH_API_HEAP_SIZE + 1];
+#else
+static uint8_t *app_stack_heap;
+#endif
 static bool mesh_initialized = false;
 
 /*
@@ -55,6 +61,10 @@ static void mesh_system_heap_error_handler(heap_fail_t event)
 void mesh_system_init(void)
 {
     if (mesh_initialized == false) {
+#if MBED_CONF_MBED_MESH_API_USE_MALLOC_FOR_HEAP
+        app_stack_heap = malloc(MBED_CONF_MBED_MESH_API_HEAP_SIZE+1);
+        MBED_ASSERT(app_stack_heap);
+#endif
         ns_hal_init(app_stack_heap, MBED_CONF_MBED_MESH_API_HEAP_SIZE,
                     mesh_system_heap_error_handler, NULL);
         eventOS_scheduler_mutex_wait();