diff --git a/terminal.py b/terminal.py
index 5462c83..602a291 100755
--- a/terminal.py
+++ b/terminal.py
@@ -362,6 +362,9 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
                         help="Don't use colors in output")
     parser.add_argument("--flow", "-f", action="store_true",
                         help="Enable RTS/CTS flow control")
+    parser.add_argument("--esp", "-e", action="store_true",
+                        help="Force RTS and DTR high, for ESP boards. Note that"
+                        " the lines may still glitch low at startup.")
     parser.add_argument("--bufsize", "-z", metavar="SIZE", type=int,
                         help="Buffer size for reads and writes", default=65536)
 
@@ -395,7 +398,13 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
             sys.stderr.write("error: %s specified more than once\n" % node)
             raise SystemExit(1)
         try:
-            dev = MySerial(node, baud, rtscts = args.flow)
+            dev = MySerial(None, baud, rtscts = args.flow)
+            dev.port = node
+            if args.esp:
+                # Force DTR and RTS high by setting to false
+                dev.dtr = False
+                dev.rts = False
+            dev.open()
         except serial.serialutil.SerialException:
             sys.stderr.write("error opening %s\n" % node)
             raise SystemExit(1)