diff --git a/rigs/kenwood/elecraft.c b/rigs/kenwood/elecraft.c
index 077a4aa44..4d93369c5 100644
--- a/rigs/kenwood/elecraft.c
+++ b/rigs/kenwood/elecraft.c
@@ -97,11 +97,19 @@ int elecraft_open(RIG *rig)
     char buf[KENWOOD_MAX_BUF_LEN];
     struct kenwood_priv_data *priv = rig->state.priv;
     char *model = "Unknown";
+    struct rig_state *rs = &rig->state;
 
 
     rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_VERBOSE, "%s called, rig version=%s\n", __func__,
               rig->caps->version);
 
+    if (rs->auto_power_on && priv->poweron == 0)
+    {
+        rig_set_powerstat(rig, 1);
+        priv->poweron = 1;
+    }
+
+
     /* Actual read extension levels from radio.
      *
      * The value stored in the k?_ext_lvl variables map to
diff --git a/rigs/kenwood/kenwood.c b/rigs/kenwood/kenwood.c
index a82fc261f..e3da638d3 100644
--- a/rigs/kenwood/kenwood.c
+++ b/rigs/kenwood/kenwood.c
@@ -342,6 +342,8 @@ transaction_write:
         skip |= strncmp(cmdstr, "RU", 2) == 0;
         skip |= strncmp(cmdstr, "RD", 2) == 0;
         skip |= strncmp(cmdstr, "KYW", 3) == 0;
+        skip |= strncmp(cmdstr, "PS1", 3) == 0;
+        skip |= strncmp(cmdstr, "PS0", 3) == 0;
 
         if (skip)
         {
@@ -825,6 +827,14 @@ int kenwood_open(RIG *rig)
 
     id[0] = 0;
     rig->state.rigport.retry = 0;
+
+    if (rig->state.auto_power_on)
+    {
+        // Ensure rig is on
+        rig_set_powerstat(rig, 1);
+        sleep(1);
+    }
+
     err = kenwood_get_id(rig, id);
 
     if (err != RIG_OK)
@@ -857,14 +867,6 @@ int kenwood_open(RIG *rig)
         err = RIG_OK;  // reset our err back to OK for later checks
     }
 
-    if (err == -RIG_ETIMEOUT && rig->state.auto_power_on)
-    {
-        // Ensure rig is on
-        rig_set_powerstat(rig, 1);
-        /* Try get id again */
-        err = kenwood_get_id(rig, id);
-    }
-
     if (RIG_OK != err)
     {
         rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_ERR,
@@ -1069,6 +1071,8 @@ int kenwood_close(RIG *rig)
 
     ENTERFUNC;
 
+    if (priv->poweron == 0) { RETURNFUNC(RIG_OK); } // nothing to do
+
     if (!no_restore_ai && priv->trn_state >= 0)
     {
         /* restore AI state */
@@ -4825,9 +4829,16 @@ int kenwood_get_trn(RIG *rig, int *trn)
  */
 int kenwood_set_powerstat(RIG *rig, powerstat_t status)
 {
-    int retval = kenwood_transaction(rig,
-                                     (status == RIG_POWER_ON) ? ";;;;PS1;" : "PS0",
-                                     NULL, 0);
+    int retval;
+    struct kenwood_priv_data *priv = rig->state.priv;
+
+    if ((priv->is_k3 || priv->is_k3s) && status == RIG_POWER_ON)
+    {
+        rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_ERR,
+                  "%s: K3/K3S must use aux I/O jack pulled low to power on\n", __func__);
+        return -RIG_EPOWER;
+    }
+
     int i = 0;
     int retry_save = rig->state.rigport.retry;
 
@@ -4835,6 +4846,10 @@ int kenwood_set_powerstat(RIG *rig, powerstat_t status)
 
     rig->state.rigport.retry = 0;
 
+    retval = kenwood_transaction(rig,
+                                 (status == RIG_POWER_ON) ? ";;;;PS1;" : "PS0",
+                                 NULL, 0);
+
     if (status == RIG_POWER_ON) // wait for wakeup only
     {
         for (i = 0; i < 8; ++i) // up to ~10 seconds including the timeouts
diff --git a/src/rig.c b/src/rig.c
index 2aa101ab8..65927287e 100644
--- a/src/rig.c
+++ b/src/rig.c
@@ -1267,6 +1267,19 @@ int HAMLIB_API rig_open(RIG *rig)
 
     if (caps->rig_open != NULL)
     {
+        if (caps->get_powerstat != NULL)
+        {
+            powerstat_t powerflag;
+            status = rig_get_powerstat(rig, &powerflag);
+            if (status == RIG_OK && powerflag == RIG_POWER_OFF) return (-RIG_EPOWER);
+            // don't need auto_power_on if power is already on
+            if (status == RIG_OK && powerflag == RIG_POWER_ON) rig->state.auto_power_on = 0;
+            if (status == -RIG_ETIMEOUT) {
+                rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_ERR, "%s: Some rigs cannot get_powerstat while off\n", __func__);
+                rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_ERR, "%s: Known rigs: K3, K3S\n", __func__);
+                return (-RIG_EPOWER);
+            }
+        }
         status = caps->rig_open(rig);
 
         if (status != RIG_OK)
diff --git a/tests/rigctl.c b/tests/rigctl.c
index f29defe9a..081f25d7d 100644
--- a/tests/rigctl.c
+++ b/tests/rigctl.c
@@ -565,8 +565,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     if (retcode != RIG_OK)
     {
-        fprintf(stderr, "rig_open: error = %s %s \n", rig_file,
-                strerror(errno));
+//        fprintf(stderr, "rig_open: error = %s %s \n", rig_file,
+//                rigerror(retcode));
 
         if (!ignore_rig_open_error) { exit(2); }
     }