diff --git a/libraries/Wire/Wire.cpp b/libraries/Wire/Wire.cpp
index 6784eef87..8c3bdb676 100644
--- a/libraries/Wire/Wire.cpp
+++ b/libraries/Wire/Wire.cpp
@@ -52,8 +52,12 @@ TwoWire::TwoWire(){}
 // Public Methods //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 void TwoWire::begin(int sda, int scl){
-    twi_init(sda, scl);
-    flush();
+  twi_init(sda, scl);
+  flush();
+}
+
+void TwoWire::pins(int sda, int scl){
+  twi_init(sda, scl);
 }
 
 void TwoWire::begin(void){
diff --git a/libraries/Wire/Wire.h b/libraries/Wire/Wire.h
index 3404fda7f..9fc8f9c76 100644
--- a/libraries/Wire/Wire.h
+++ b/libraries/Wire/Wire.h
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ class TwoWire : public Stream
   public:
     TwoWire();
     void begin(int sda, int scl);
+    void pins(int sda, int scl) __attribute__((deprecated)); // use begin(sda, scl) in new code
     void begin();
     void begin(uint8_t);
     void begin(int);