diff --git a/rigs/kenwood/kenwood.c b/rigs/kenwood/kenwood.c
index cac9d1417..c3baa04cd 100644
--- a/rigs/kenwood/kenwood.c
+++ b/rigs/kenwood/kenwood.c
@@ -320,6 +320,9 @@ transaction_write:
         /* flush anything in the read buffer before command is sent */
         rig_flush(&rs->rigport);
 
+        // PS command may need to wake up serial port
+        if (strncmp(cmd, "PS", 2) == 0) { write_block(&rs->rigport, (unsigned char *) ";;;;", 4); }
+
         retval = write_block(&rs->rigport, (unsigned char *) cmd, len);
 
         free(cmd);
@@ -4847,7 +4850,7 @@ int kenwood_set_powerstat(RIG *rig, powerstat_t status)
     rig->state.rigport.retry = 0;
 
     retval = kenwood_transaction(rig,
-                                 (status == RIG_POWER_ON) ? ";;;;PS1;" : "PS0",
+                                 (status == RIG_POWER_ON) ? "PS1;" : "PS0;",
                                  NULL, 0);
 
     if (status == RIG_POWER_ON) // wait for wakeup only
diff --git a/rigs/kenwood/kenwood.h b/rigs/kenwood/kenwood.h
index 9d268e07d..a193a69dd 100644
--- a/rigs/kenwood/kenwood.h
+++ b/rigs/kenwood/kenwood.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 #include "misc.h"
 #include "idx_builtin.h"
 
-#define BACKEND_VER "20230225"
+#define BACKEND_VER "20230226"
 
 #define EOM_KEN ';'
 #define EOM_TH '\r'