diff --git a/rs232controller.c b/rs232controller.c
index 0413a98a..b26bf234 100644
--- a/rs232controller.c
+++ b/rs232controller.c
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ int readRS232TillTerm(prs232 self, void *data, int *datalen){
   replylen = *datalen;
   iRet = NETReadTillTermNew(self->pSock,self->timeout,self->replyTerminator,
 			  (char *)data, replylen);
-  if(self->debug > 0 && iRet == 1)
+  if(self->debug > 0 && iRet > 0)
   {
     printf("RS232 IN/TERM : %s",(char *)data);
     if(strchr((char *)data,'\n') == NULL)
@@ -243,7 +243,11 @@ int readRS232TillTerm(prs232 self, void *data, int *datalen){
   {
     return iRet;
   }
-  *datalen = strlen((char *)data);
+  if (*self->replyTerminator != 0) {
+    *datalen = strlen((char *)data);
+  } else {
+    *datalen = iRet;
+  }
   return 1;
 }
 /*-----------------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -328,7 +332,7 @@ int transactRS232(prs232 self, void *send, int sendLen,
 			  reply, replyLen);
   if(self->debug > 0)
   {
-    if(iRet == 1)
+    if(iRet > 0)
     {
       printf("RS232 IN/TRANS: %s",(char *)reply);
       if(strchr((char *)reply,'\n') == NULL)
@@ -407,7 +411,7 @@ int getRS232Timeout(prs232 self){
   return self->timeout;
 }
 /*--------------------------------------------------------------------*/
-int initRS232(prs232 self)
+int initRS232WithFlags(prs232 self, int flags)
 {
   int iRet;
 
@@ -422,7 +426,7 @@ int initRS232(prs232 self)
     free(self->pSock);
     self->pSock = NULL;
   }
-  self->pSock = NETConnect(self->pHost, self->iPort);
+  self->pSock = NETConnectWithFlags(self->pHost, self->iPort, flags);
   if(!self->pSock){
     return FAILEDCONNECT;
   } else{
@@ -434,6 +438,23 @@ int initRS232(prs232 self)
   }
 }
 /*--------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+int initRS232(prs232 self)
+{
+  return initRS232WithFlags(self, 0);
+}
+/*--------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+int initRS232Finished(prs232 self)
+{
+   int iret;
+   
+   iret = NETConnectFinished(self->pSock);
+   if (iret < 0) {
+     return FAILEDCONNECT;
+   } else {
+     return iret;
+   }
+}
+/*--------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 void closeRS232(prs232 self)
 {
   assert(self);
@@ -453,6 +474,8 @@ prs232 createRS232(char *host, int iPort)
 {
   prs232 pNew = NULL;
 
+  assert(iPort > 0);
+  
   /*
    create data structure 
   */
@@ -512,6 +535,11 @@ prs232 createRS232(char *host, int iPort)
   }
 }
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+static void KillAndFreeRS232(void *pData) {
+  KillRS232(pData);
+  free(pData);
+}
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 static int checkSet(SConnection *pCon, int argc, int rights)
 {
   if(argc < 3)
@@ -828,12 +856,12 @@ int RS232Factory(SConnection *pCon, SicsInterp *pSics,
   /*
     create the command
   */
-  iRet = AddCommand(pSics,argv[1],RS232Action, KillRS232, pNew);
+  iRet = AddCommand(pSics,argv[1],RS232Action, KillAndFreeRS232, pNew);
   if(!iRet)
   {
         sprintf(pError,"ERROR: duplicate command %s not created", argv[1]);
         SCWrite(pCon,pError,eError);
-        KillRS232(pNew);
+        KillAndFreeRS232(pNew);
         return 0;
  }
  return 1;
diff --git a/rs232controller.h b/rs232controller.h
index 074a4294..92ec9722 100644
--- a/rs232controller.h
+++ b/rs232controller.h
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@
                                              int errorBufferLen);
         int getRS232Timeout(prs232 self);
         int initRS232(prs232 self);
+        int initRS232WithFlags(prs232 self, int flags);
+        int initRS232Finished(prs232 self);
         void closeRS232(prs232 self);
         prs232 createRS232(char *host, int iPort);
         void KillRS232(void *pData);
diff --git a/rs232controller.w b/rs232controller.w
index a06cb5ca..7c908470 100644
--- a/rs232controller.w
+++ b/rs232controller.w
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ The following interface functions are provided:
                                              int errorBufferLen);
 	int getRS232Timeout(prs232 self);
         int initRS232(prs232 self);
+        int initRS232WithFlags(prs232 self, int flags);
+        int initRS232Finished(prs232 self);
 	void closeRS232(prs232 self);
         prs232 createRS232(char *host, int iPort);
 	void KillRS232(void *pData);
@@ -103,6 +105,12 @@ directly followed by a read.
  iCode.
 \item[initRS232] tries to close and reopen the RS232 connection. This is 
  useful for the automatic fixing of communication problems encountered.
+\item[initRS232WithFlags] the same as initRS232, but with flags. flags = 1:
+ do not block on connect (use initRS232Finished to check success).
+ flags=2: wait 1000 ms after last close or restart (workaround for a bug
+ in Lantronix terminal server). flags=3: both options. flags=0: no opitons.
+\item[initRS232Finished] returns 0 when connect in progress, 1 when finished,
+ FAILEDCONNECT on failure.
 \item[closeRS232] closes a network connection but does not delete the datastructure.
 \item[createRS232] creates a new rs232 data structure with all
 parameters at  default values. The connection is NOT opened.