diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..67177193
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+### ddt4all specific
+/ecu.zip
+/ecus/
+/logs/
+
+### Python generic ###
+# Byte-compiled / optimized / DLL files
+__pycache__/
+*.py[cod]
+*$py.class
+
+### IDE generic ###
+/.vscode/
diff --git a/elm.py b/elm.py
index 993482a2..472e674e 100644
--- a/elm.py
+++ b/elm.py
@@ -568,10 +568,6 @@ def __init__(self, portName, rate, adapter_type="STD", maxspeed="No"):
             self.sim_mode = options.simulation_mode
             self.portName = portName
             self.adapter_type = adapter_type
-            if maxspeed == "No":
-                maxspeed = 0
-            else:
-                maxspeed = int(maxspeed)
 
             if not options.simulation_mode:
                 self.port = Port(portName, speed, self.portTimeout)
@@ -603,7 +599,12 @@ def __init__(self, portName, rate, adapter_type="STD", maxspeed="No"):
                 rate = speed
                 break
 
-        if adapter_type == "OBDLINK" and maxspeed and not options.elm_failed and rate != 2000000:
+        try:
+            maxspeed = int(maxspeed)
+        except:
+            maxspeed = 0
+
+        if adapter_type == "OBDLINK" and maxspeed > 0 and not options.elm_failed and rate != 2000000:
             print("OBDLink Connection OK, attempting full speed UART switch")
             try:
                 self.raise_odb_speed(maxspeed)
@@ -611,7 +612,7 @@ def __init__(self, portName, rate, adapter_type="STD", maxspeed="No"):
                 options.elm_failed = True
                 self.connectionStatus = False
                 print("Failed to switch to change OBDLink to " + str(maxspeed))
-        elif adapter_type == "STD_USB" and rate != 115200 and maxspeed:
+        elif adapter_type == "STD_USB" and rate != 115200 and maxspeed > 0:
             print("ELM Connection OK, attempting high speed UART switch")
             try:
                 self.raise_elm_speed(maxspeed)