diff --git a/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.js b/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.js
index b3169106..1a43637b 100644
--- a/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.js
+++ b/hardware/Arduino/35-arduino.js
@@ -9,21 +9,21 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
     function ArduinoNode(n) {
         RED.nodes.createNode(this,n);
         this.device = n.device || null;
+        this.running = false;
+        this.reported = false;
         var node = this;
-        var running = false;
-        var reported = false;
 
         var startup = function() {
             node.board = new Board(node.device, function(e) {
                 if ((e !== undefined) && (e.toString().indexOf("cannot open") !== -1) ) {
-                    if (!reported) {
+                    if (node.reported === false) {
                         node.error(RED._("arduino.errors.portnotfound",{device:node.device}));
-                        reported = true;
+                        node.reported = true;
                     }
                 }
                 else if (e === undefined) {
-                    running = true;
-                    reported = false;
+                    node.running = true;
+                    node.reported = false;
                     node.board.once('ready', function() {
                         node.log(RED._("arduino.status.connected",{device:node.board.sp.path}));
                         if (RED.settings.verbose) {
@@ -34,16 +34,16 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
                         node.error(RED._("arduino.status.portclosed"));
                     });
                     node.board.once('disconnect', function() {
-                        if (running) { setTimeout(function() { running = false; startup(); }, 5000); }
+                        if (node.running === true) { setTimeout(function() { node.running = false; startup(); }, 5000); }
                     });
                 }
             });
-            setTimeout(function() { if (!running) { startup(); } }, 5000);
+            setTimeout(function() { if (node.running === false) { startup(); } }, 5000);
         };
         startup();
 
         node.on('close', function(done) {
-            running = false;
+            node.running = false;
             if (node.board) {
                 try {
                     node.board.transport.close(function() {
@@ -185,12 +185,12 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
                     });
                     node.board.once('disconnect', function() {
                         node.status({fill:"red",shape:"ring",text:"node-red:common.status.not-connected"});
-                        if (node.running) { setTimeout(function() { node.running = false; startup(); }, 5500); }
+                        if (node.running === true) { setTimeout(function() { node.running = false; startup(); }, 5500); }
                     });
                 }
                 if (node.board.isReady) { doit(); }
                 else { node.board.once("ready", function() { doit(); }); }
-                setTimeout(function() { if (!node.running) { startup(); } }, 4500);
+                setTimeout(function() { if (node.running === false) { startup(); } }, 4500);
             }
             startup();
         }
diff --git a/hardware/Arduino/package.json b/hardware/Arduino/package.json
index 77d1dd66..c919cabb 100644
--- a/hardware/Arduino/package.json
+++ b/hardware/Arduino/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
     "name"          : "node-red-node-arduino",
-    "version"       : "0.2.2",
+    "version"       : "0.2.3",
     "description"   : "A Node-RED node to talk to an Arduino running firmata",
     "dependencies"  : {
         "firmata"   : "^2.0.0"