diff --git a/colourterm/mainwindow.py b/colourterm/mainwindow.py
index 64a76c3..a576e6f 100644
--- a/colourterm/mainwindow.py
+++ b/colourterm/mainwindow.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import threading
 from string import printable
 
 from PyQt4 import QtCore, QtGui, QtWebKit
-from serial import Serial, SerialException
+from serial import Serial, SerialException, serial_for_url
 
 from colourterm import SettingsDialog, ConnectDialog, SComboBox, Highlight, from_utf8, translate, \
     create_default_highlights
@@ -293,8 +293,8 @@ class MainWindow(QtGui.QMainWindow, UiMainWindow):
                     except (TypeError, ValueError):
                         QtGui.QMessageBox.critical(self, 'Error opening port', 'Error: Port is not valid')
                         return
-                self.device = Serial(
-                    port=port,
+                self.device = serial_for_url(
+                    url=port,
                     baudrate=self.connect_dialog.get_baud(),
                     bytesize=self.connect_dialog.get_data_bits(),
                     parity=self.connect_dialog.get_parity(),
@@ -302,7 +302,8 @@ class MainWindow(QtGui.QMainWindow, UiMainWindow):
                     timeout=1,
                     xonxoff=self.connect_dialog.get_software_handshake(),
                     rtscts=self.connect_dialog.get_hardware_handshake(),
-                    dsrdtr=None
+                    dsrdtr=None,
+                    do_not_open=False
                 )
                 self.device_closed = False
                 if not self.device.isOpen():