diff --git a/atusb/fw/board_app.c b/atusb/fw/board_app.c
index 6c64291..520f2fe 100644
--- a/atusb/fw/board_app.c
+++ b/atusb/fw/board_app.c
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ int gpio(uint8_t port, uint8_t data, uint8_t dir, uint8_t mask, uint8_t *res)
 	}
 
 	/* disable the UART so that we can meddle with these pins as well. */
-	UCSR1B = 0;
+	spi_off();
 	_delay_ms(1);
 
 	switch (port) {
@@ -115,7 +115,5 @@ int gpio(uint8_t port, uint8_t data, uint8_t dir, uint8_t mask, uint8_t *res)
 		break;
 	}
 
-	spi_init();
-
 	return 1;
 }
diff --git a/atusb/fw/spi.c b/atusb/fw/spi.c
index 30345d8..047523f 100644
--- a/atusb/fw/spi.c
+++ b/atusb/fw/spi.c
@@ -19,8 +19,13 @@
 #include "spi.h"
 
 
+static int spi_initialized = 0;
+
+
 void spi_begin(void)
 {
+	if (!spi_initialized)
+		spi_init();
 	CLR(nSS);
 }
 
@@ -41,6 +46,13 @@ void spi_end(void)
 }
 
 
+void spi_off(void)
+{
+	spi_initialized = 0;
+	UCSR1B = 0;
+}
+
+
 void spi_init(void)
 {
 	SET(nSS);
@@ -55,4 +67,6 @@ void spi_init(void)
 	UCSR1B = 1 << RXEN1 | 1 << TXEN1;
 			/* enable receiver and transmitter */
 	UBRR1 = 0;	/* reconfirm the bit rate */
+
+	spi_initialized = 1;
 }
diff --git a/atusb/fw/spi.h b/atusb/fw/spi.h
index 51726f4..ff9d005 100644
--- a/atusb/fw/spi.h
+++ b/atusb/fw/spi.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 void spi_begin(void);
 uint8_t spi_io(uint8_t v);
 void spi_end(void);
+void spi_off(void);
 void spi_init(void);
 
 #define	spi_send(v)	(void) spi_io(v)