diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 6cdc9cb..47d819b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "@uci/mcp",
   "main": "src",
-  "version": "0.1.36",
+  "version": "0.1.37",
   "description": "Classes and Helper Functions for using the MCP chip on I2C Bus",
   "scripts": {
     "relays": "node -r esm examples/relays",
diff --git a/src/mcp230xx.js b/src/mcp230xx.js
index e924f1d..50a56a7 100644
--- a/src/mcp230xx.js
+++ b/src/mcp230xx.js
@@ -16,21 +16,31 @@ class MCP230XX extends Device {
     })
     this.chip17 = opts.chip17
     this.chipCfg = opts.chipCfg || 'default'
+    // this._configured = false
     this.commands = this.bindFuncs(commands)
     this.addNamespace('commands', 's') // allow access to commands via socket/server
     // this._pin = this.commands.pin // add a simplier reference for local access
     // this._chipcfg = this.commands.chip.cfg // add a simplier reference for local access
+    this.once('ready:i2c', () =>{
+      this.configure()
+      if (this._ready) this._ready.call(this)
+    })
   }
 
-  async init() {
-    await super.init()
+  async registerReadyFunc(func) {
+    this._ready = func
+  }
+
+  async configure() {
     let res = await this.commands.chip.cfg({cfg:this.chipCfg})
     if (res.error) {
-      log.fatal({method:'init', line:82, msg:'unable to configure mcp chip', error:res.error, cfg:this.chipCfg, address:this.address})
-      throw `${res.error} at address ${this.address}/${this.address.toString(16)}`
+      let err={level:'fatal', msg:'unable to configure mcp chip', error:res.error, cfg:this.chipCfg, address:this.address}
+      log.fatal(err)
+      this.emit('status', err)
+    } else {
+      this.emit('status', {level:'info', msg:'mcp chip was properly configured', cfg:this.chipCfg})
+      this.emit('ready:mcp')
     }
-    await this.commands.pin.cfg({pins:'all'}) //pins are outputs by default
-    if (this.chip17) await this.commands.pin.cfg({pins:'all', port:'B'})
   }
 } // end of MCP230XX Class