diff --git a/secop/modules.py b/secop/modules.py
index 5d3dfad..3153d6f 100644
--- a/secop/modules.py
+++ b/secop/modules.py
@@ -407,3 +407,14 @@ class Communicator(Module):
                             result=StringType()
                            ),
     }
+
+
+
+class Attached(Property):
+    # we can not put this to properties.py, as it needs datatypes
+    def __init__(self, attrname=None):
+        self.attrname = attrname
+        super().__init__('attached module', StringType())
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return 'Attached(%r)' % self.description
diff --git a/secop/properties.py b/secop/properties.py
index 5fe4bd1..eac01d4 100644
--- a/secop/properties.py
+++ b/secop/properties.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class Property:
         self.settable = settable or mandatory  # settable means settable from the cfg file
 
     def __repr__(self):
-        return 'Property(%s, %s, default=%r, extname=%r, export=%r, mandatory=%r)' % (
+        return 'Property(%r, %s, default=%r, extname=%r, export=%r, mandatory=%r)' % (
             self.description, self.datatype, self.default, self.extname, self.export, self.mandatory)
 
 
diff --git a/secop/server.py b/secop/server.py
index 09ac38a..5eef4ed 100644
--- a/secop/server.py
+++ b/secop/server.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ from daemon import DaemonContext
 
 from secop.errors import ConfigError
 from secop.lib import formatException, get_class, getGeneralConfig
+from secop.modules import Attached
 
 try:
     import daemon.pidlockfile as pidlockfile
@@ -186,6 +187,12 @@ class Server:
             # also call earlyInit on the modules
             modobj.earlyInit()
 
+        # handle attached modules
+        for modname, modobj in self.modules.items():
+            for propname, propobj in modobj.__class__.properties.items():
+                if isinstance(propobj, Attached):
+                    setattr(modobj, propobj.attrname or '_' + propname,
+                            self.dispatcher.get_module(modobj.properties[propname]))
         # call init on each module after registering all
         for modname, modobj in self.modules.items():
             modobj.initModule()
diff --git a/secop_psi/ppms.py b/secop_psi/ppms.py
index 28acb48..0420d6b 100755
--- a/secop_psi/ppms.py
+++ b/secop_psi/ppms.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ import threading
 import json
 
 from secop.modules import Module, Readable, Drivable, Parameter, Override,\
-    Communicator, Property
+    Communicator, Property, Attached
 from secop.datatypes import EnumType, FloatRange, IntRange, StringType,\
     BoolType, StatusType
 from secop.lib.enum import Enum
@@ -124,9 +124,7 @@ class Main(Communicator):
 
 class PpmsMixin(Module):
     properties = {
-        'iodev':
-            Property('attached communicator module',
-                     datatype=StringType(), export=False, default=''),
+        'iodev': Attached('_main'),
     }
     parameters = {
         'settings':
@@ -142,7 +140,6 @@ class PpmsMixin(Module):
     slow_pollfactor = 1
 
     def initModule(self):
-        self._main = self.DISPATCHER.get_module(self.iodev)
         self._main.register(self)
 
     def startModule(self, started_callback):