diff --git a/TWCManager.py b/TWCManager.py
index feaa0a90..6e22d064 100644
--- a/TWCManager.py
+++ b/TWCManager.py
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@
 import json
 from datetime import datetime
 import threading
+from serial.threaded import ser
 
 
 ##########################
@@ -2566,6 +2567,8 @@ def set_last_amps_offered(self, desiredAmpsOffered):
             # If we have no slaves, try to re-establish the connection
             if (numInitMsgsToSend == 0 and slave_count() == 0):
                 numInitMsgsToSend = 10
+                ser.close()
+                ser.open()
 
             # A real master sends 5 copies of linkready1 and linkready2 whenever
             # it starts up, which we do here.