diff --git a/moxerver.c b/moxerver.c
index a306aca..ecd27c7 100644
--- a/moxerver.c
+++ b/moxerver.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	
 	unsigned int tcp_port = -1;
 	char tty_path[DEV_PATH] = {'\0'};
+	struct tty_t tty_dev;
 	
 	fd_set read_fds;
 	int fdmax;
@@ -96,6 +97,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "[%s] error: tty path was not specified\n\n", NAME);
 		usage();
 		return -1;
+	} else {
+		/* set tty device path to in tty_dev struct */
+		strcpy(tty_dev.path, tty_path);
 	}
 	
 	/* introduction message */
@@ -110,6 +114,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	
 	
 	//TODO this is a good place to create and start the TTY thread, use "tty_path" when opening device
+	if (tty_open(&tty_dev) < 0) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "[%s] error: opening of tty device at %s failed\n"
+				"\t-> continuing in echo mode\n", NAME, tty_path); 
+		//return -1;
+	}
+
 	ret = pthread_create(&tty_thread, NULL, tty_thread_func, "starting tty thread...");
 	
 	/* loop with timeouts waiting for client connection and data*/
diff --git a/moxerver.h b/moxerver.h
index 5130333..ef0c36a 100644
--- a/moxerver.h
+++ b/moxerver.h
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ int telnet_handle_client_write(char *databuf, int *datalen);
 
 
 /* Opens the tty device and configures it. */
-int tty_open(struct tty_t *tty_dev, char* path);
+int tty_open(struct tty_t *tty_dev);
 /* Closes the tty device. */
 int tty_close(struct tty_t *tty_dev);
 /* Reconfigures the tty device. */
diff --git a/tty.c b/tty.c
index 64966a7..4656f80 100644
--- a/tty.c
+++ b/tty.c
@@ -4,13 +4,20 @@
 #define NAME "tty"
 
 /* Opens the tty device and configures it. */
-int tty_open(struct tty_t *tty_dev, char* path) {
+int tty_open(struct tty_t *tty_dev) {
+	int fd;
 	// PROPOSAL:
 	// open tty device to get file descriptor @tty_dev.fd
 	// setup tty device parameters @tty_dev.ttyset
 	// apply settings by calling tcsetattr(fd, ttyset)
 	// on success copy path to @tty_dev.path
+	if ((fd = open (tty_dev->path, O_RDWR | O_NOCTTY | O_SYNC)) < 0)
+		return -errno;
+	else 
+		tty_dev->fd = fd;
+		
 	return 0;
+	
 }
 /* Closes the tty device. */
 int tty_close(struct tty_t *tty_dev) {