diff --git a/radio.c b/radio.c
index c5634d4..cef88a0 100644
--- a/radio.c
+++ b/radio.c
@@ -80,15 +80,15 @@ void radio_disconnect()
 //
 // Print a generic information about the device.
 //
-void radio_print_version(FILE *out)
+void radio_print_version(radio_device_t* dev, FILE *out)
 {
-    device->print_version(device, out);
+    dev->print_version(dev, out);
 }
 
 //
 // Connect to the radio and identify the type of device.
 //
-void radio_connect()
+radio_device_t* radio_connect()
 {
     const char *ident;
     int i;
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ void radio_connect()
         exit(-1);
     }
     fprintf(stderr, "Connect to %s.\n", device->name);
+    return device;
 }
 
 //
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ void radio_list_c()
 //
 // Read firmware image from the device.
 //
-void radio_download()
+void radio_download(radio_device_t* dev)
 {
     radio_progress = 0;
     if (! trace_flag) {
@@ -148,7 +149,7 @@ void radio_download()
         fflush(stderr);
     }
 
-    device->download(device);
+    dev->download(dev);
 
     if (! trace_flag)
         fprintf(stderr, " done.\n");
diff --git a/radio.h b/radio.h
index 48334e6..d63223f 100644
--- a/radio.h
+++ b/radio.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 // Connect to the radio via the serial port.
 // Identify the type of device.
 //
-void radio_connect(void);
+//void radio_connect(void);
 
 //
 // Close the serial port.
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ void radio_disconnect(void);
 //
 // Read firmware image from the device.
 //
-void radio_download(void);
+//void radio_download(void);
 
 //
 // Write firmware image to the device.
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ void radio_upload(int cont_flag);
 //
 // Print a generic information about the device.
 //
-void radio_print_version(FILE *out);
+//void radio_print_version(FILE *out);
 
 //
 // Print full information about the device configuration.
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ void radio_write_csv(const char *filename);
 //
 // List all supported radios.
 //
-void radio_list_c(void);
+//void radio_list_c(void);
 
 //
 // Check for compatible radio model.
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 5af7bf7..f58deb3 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -92,9 +92,9 @@ pub extern "C" fn rust_main(_argc: c_int, _argv: *const *const c_char) -> c_int
       print_usage();
     }
     unsafe {
-      radio::connect();
+      let device = radio::connect();
       radio::read_image(&matches.free[0]);
-      radio::print_version();
+      radio::print_version(device);
       radio_upload(0);
       radio::disconnect();
     }
@@ -111,17 +111,18 @@ pub extern "C" fn rust_main(_argc: c_int, _argv: *const *const c_char) -> c_int
 
     if let Some(img) = image_filename {
       // Apply text config to image file.
+      let device = radio::connect(); //NOTE this changes the semantics of the program
       radio::read_image(&img);
-      radio::print_version();
+      radio::print_version(device);
       radio::parse_config(&config_filename);
       radio::verify_config();
       radio::save_image("device.img");
     } else {
       // Update device from text config file.
       unsafe {
-        radio::connect();
-        radio::download();
-        radio::print_version();
+        let device = radio::connect();
+        radio::download(device);
+        radio::print_version(device);
         radio::save_image("device.img");
         radio::parse_config(&config_filename);
         radio::verify_config();
@@ -144,9 +145,9 @@ pub extern "C" fn rust_main(_argc: c_int, _argv: *const *const c_char) -> c_int
     }
 
     // Dump device to image file.
-      radio::connect();
-      radio::download();
-      radio::print_version();
+      let device = radio::connect();
+      radio::download(device);
+      radio::print_version(device);
       radio::disconnect();
       radio::save_image("device.img");
 
diff --git a/src/radio.rs b/src/radio.rs
index 99a926e..3f74eb6 100644
--- a/src/radio.rs
+++ b/src/radio.rs
@@ -2,13 +2,16 @@ use std::ffi::CString;
 use libc::{c_char, c_int};
 use std::os::unix::io::AsRawFd;
 
+#[repr(C)]
+pub struct RadioDeviceT { _private: [u8; 0] }
+
 extern {
-  fn radio_connect();
+  fn radio_connect() -> *const RadioDeviceT;
   fn radio_disconnect();
-  fn radio_download();
+  fn radio_download(device: *const RadioDeviceT);
   fn radio_list_c();
   fn radio_verify_config();
-  fn radio_print_version(stdout: *const libc::FILE);
+  fn radio_print_version(device: *const RadioDeviceT, stdout: *const libc::FILE);
   fn radio_print_config(file: *const libc::FILE, verbose: c_int);
   fn radio_read_image(filename: *const c_char);
   fn radio_save_image(filename: *const c_char);
@@ -16,7 +19,7 @@ extern {
   fn radio_write_csv(filename: *const c_char);
 }
 
-pub fn connect() {
+pub fn connect() -> *const RadioDeviceT {
   unsafe {
     radio_connect()
   }
@@ -28,13 +31,15 @@ pub fn disconnect() {
   }
 }
 
-pub fn download() {
+pub fn download(device: *const RadioDeviceT) {
   unsafe {
-    radio_download()
+    radio_download(device)
   }
 }
 
 pub fn list() {
+
+
   unsafe {
     radio_list_c();
   }
@@ -91,10 +96,10 @@ pub fn print_config_to_stdout() {
   }
 }
 
-pub fn print_version() {
+pub fn print_version(device: *const RadioDeviceT) {
   let mode = CString::new("w").unwrap();
   unsafe {
-    radio_print_version(libc::fdopen(libc::STDOUT_FILENO, mode.as_ptr()));
+    radio_print_version(device, libc::fdopen(libc::STDOUT_FILENO, mode.as_ptr()));
   }
 }