diff --git a/variants/esp32s3/heltec_v3/platformio.ini b/variants/esp32s3/heltec_v3/platformio.ini
index 2a25815f85..4d0be03f58 100644
--- a/variants/esp32s3/heltec_v3/platformio.ini
+++ b/variants/esp32s3/heltec_v3/platformio.ini
@@ -17,3 +17,17 @@ build_flags =
   ${esp32s3_base.build_flags}
   -D HELTEC_V3
   -I variants/esp32s3/heltec_v3
+
+; The BLE-mesh opt-in build for heltec-v3. It carries the GATT mesh-peer transport, a second
+; peripheral link beside the phone's; network.enabled_protocols turns it on at runtime. The host
+; and controller are rebuilt for it: two connections, and three controller activities (the
+; advertisement and both links). Last key wins, so these follow the inherited values.
+[env:heltec-v3_blemesh]
+extends = env:heltec-v3
+build_flags = ${env:heltec-v3.build_flags}
+  -DHAS_BLE_GATT_MESH=1
+  -DBLE_GATT_MESH_ESP32_LINKS=2
+custom_sdkconfig =
+  ${esp32s3_base.custom_sdkconfig}
+  CONFIG_BT_NIMBLE_MAX_CONNECTIONS=2
+  CONFIG_BT_CTRL_BLE_MAX_ACT=3