diff --git a/examples/common_components/env_caps/esp32c2/Kconfig.env_caps b/examples/common_components/env_caps/esp32c2/Kconfig.env_caps
index b01125aba4..3524ca58b6 100644
--- a/examples/common_components/env_caps/esp32c2/Kconfig.env_caps
+++ b/examples/common_components/env_caps/esp32c2/Kconfig.env_caps
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ config ENV_GPIO_RANGE_MIN
 
 config ENV_GPIO_RANGE_MAX
     int
-    default 20
+    default 18
+    # GPIOs 19/20 are always used by UART in examples
 
 config ENV_GPIO_IN_RANGE_MAX
     int