diff --git a/nodes/core/hardware/35-arduino.html b/nodes/core/hardware/35-arduino.html
index 17f028928..982cfe095 100644
--- a/nodes/core/hardware/35-arduino.html
+++ b/nodes/core/hardware/35-arduino.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!--
-  Copyright 2013,2014 IBM Corp.
+  Copyright 2013,2015 IBM Corp.
 
   Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
   you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
         icon: "arduino.png",
         label: function() {
             var a = "";
-            if (this.state == "ANALOG") a = "A";
+            if (this.state === "ANALOG") { a = "A"; }
             return this.name||"Pin: "+a+this.pin;
         },
         labelStyle: function() {
@@ -128,14 +128,14 @@
         <input type="text" id="node-config-input-device" style="width:60%;" placeholder="e.g. /dev/ttyUSB0  COM1"/>
         <a id="node-config-lookup-serial" class="btn"><i id="node-config-lookup-serial-icon" class="fa fa-search"></i></a>
     </div>
-    <div class="form-tips"><b>Tip:</b> Use search to try to auto-detect serial port.</div>
+    <div class="form-tips"><b>Tip:</b> Use search to list serial ports, or leave blank to connect to first device found.</div>
 </script>
 
 <script type="text/javascript">
     RED.nodes.registerType('arduino-board',{
         category: 'config',
         defaults: {
-            device: {value:"",required:true}
+            device: {value:""}
         },
         label: function() {
             return this.device||"arduino";
diff --git a/nodes/core/hardware/35-arduino.js b/nodes/core/hardware/35-arduino.js
index 750d43f9d..409c11d02 100644
--- a/nodes/core/hardware/35-arduino.js
+++ b/nodes/core/hardware/35-arduino.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /**
- * Copyright 2013,2014 IBM Corp.
+ * Copyright 2013,2015 IBM Corp.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -18,9 +18,6 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
     "use strict";
     var ArduinoFirmata = require('arduino-firmata');
     var fs = require('fs');
-    var portlist = ArduinoFirmata.list(function (err, ports) {
-        portlist = ports;
-    });
 
     // The Board Definition - this opens (and closes) the connection
     function ArduinoNode(n) {
@@ -30,15 +27,18 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
         //node.log("opening connection "+this.device);
         var node = this;
         node.board = new ArduinoFirmata();
-        if (portlist.indexOf(node.device) === -1) {
-            node.error("device "+node.device+" not found");
-        }
-        else {
-            node.board.connect(node.device);
-        }
+        ArduinoFirmata.list(function (err, ports) {
+            if (ports.indexOf(node.device) === -1) {
+                node.board.connect();
+                node.log("connecting to first device found.");
+            }
+            else {
+                node.board.connect(node.device);
+            }
 
-        node.board.on('boardReady', function(){
-            if (RED.settings.verbose) { node.log("version "+node.board.boardVersion); }
+            node.board.on('boardReady', function() {
+                if (RED.settings.verbose) { node.log("version "+node.board.boardVersion); }
+            });
         });
 
         node.on('close', function(done) {