diff --git a/reactor-plc/backplane.lua b/reactor-plc/backplane.lua
index e384e50..d63fa6e 100644
--- a/reactor-plc/backplane.lua
+++ b/reactor-plc/backplane.lua
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ function backplane.init(config, __shared_memory)
 
         -- comms modem is required if networked
         if not (plc_state.wd_modem or plc_state.wl_modem) then
-            println("startup> comms modem not found")
+            println("startup> no comms modem found")
             log.warning("BKPLN: no comms modem on startup")
 
             plc_state.degraded = true
diff --git a/rtu/backplane.lua b/rtu/backplane.lua
index 4415fe0..4282477 100644
--- a/rtu/backplane.lua
+++ b/rtu/backplane.lua
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ function backplane.init(config, __shared_memory)
 
     -- at least one comms modem is required
     if not ((_bp.wd_nic and _bp.wd_nic.is_connected()) or (_bp.wl_nic and _bp.wl_nic.is_connected())) then
-        println("startup> comms modem not found")
+        println("startup> no comms modem found")
         log.warning("BKPLN: no comms modem on startup")
         return false
     end
diff --git a/rtu/startup.lua b/rtu/startup.lua
index ad6172a..148d5f6 100644
--- a/rtu/startup.lua
+++ b/rtu/startup.lua
@@ -138,8 +138,7 @@ local function main()
         log.debug("startup> conn watchdog started")
 
         -- setup comms
-        local nic = backplane.active_nic()
-        smem_sys.rtu_comms = rtu.comms(RTU_VERSION, nic, smem_sys.conn_watchdog)
+        smem_sys.rtu_comms = rtu.comms(RTU_VERSION, backplane.active_nic(), smem_sys.conn_watchdog)
         log.debug("startup> comms init")
 
         -- init threads