diff --git a/lib/adaptors/serialport.js b/lib/adaptors/serialport.js
index afe3813..afc42b8 100644
--- a/lib/adaptors/serialport.js
+++ b/lib/adaptors/serialport.js
@@ -50,13 +50,13 @@ util.inherits(Adaptor, EventEmitter);
  */
 Adaptor.prototype.open = function open(callback) {
   var self = this,
-      port = this.serialport = new serialport.SerialPort(this.conn, {});
+      port = this.serialport = new serialport.SerialPort(this.conn, {}, false);
 
   function emit(name) {
     return self.emit.bind(self, name);
   }
 
-  port.on("open", function(error) {
+  port.open(function(error) {
     if (error) {
       callback(error);
       return;
diff --git a/lib/sphero.js b/lib/sphero.js
index d92e20c..7f5686c 100644
--- a/lib/sphero.js
+++ b/lib/sphero.js
@@ -89,7 +89,11 @@ Sphero.prototype.connect = function(callback) {
 
   connection.on("open", emit("open"));
 
-  connection.open(function() {
+  connection.open(function(error) {
+    if (error) {
+      callback(error);
+      return;
+    }
     self.ready = true;
 
     connection.onRead(function(payload) {