diff --git a/src/rig.c b/src/rig.c
index ceb7586c4..67af05e67 100644
--- a/src/rig.c
+++ b/src/rig.c
@@ -604,6 +604,7 @@ int HAMLIB_API rig_open(RIG *rig)
     if (rs->comm_state)
     {
         port_close(&rs->rigport, rs->rigport.type.rig);
+        rs->comm_state = 0;
         return -RIG_EINVAL;
     }