diff --git a/Controls/ConnectionOptions.cs b/Controls/ConnectionOptions.cs
index 550f5619e2..08be229c29 100644
--- a/Controls/ConnectionOptions.cs
+++ b/Controls/ConnectionOptions.cs
@@ -32,10 +32,16 @@ private void BUT_connect_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 
             try
             {
-                MainV2.instance.doConnect(mav, CMB_serialport.Text, CMB_baudrate.Text);
-
-                MainV2.Comports.Add(mav);
-
+                // Connect, but don't try to get params yet, the serial reader thread doesn't try to
+                // read from this port until we add it to Comports, and it cannot be added to Comports
+                // until the BaseStream is open.
+                MainV2.instance.doConnect(mav, CMB_serialport.Text, CMB_baudrate.Text, getparams:false);
+
+                MainV2.Comports.Add(mav);
+
+                // It is now safe to fetch params
+                mav.getParamList();
+
                 MainV2._connectionControl.UpdateSysIDS();
             }
             catch (Exception)
diff --git a/Program.cs b/Program.cs
index d8d4dc6127..375e5f04ff 100644
--- a/Program.cs
+++ b/Program.cs
@@ -385,7 +385,11 @@ public static void Start(string[] args)
 
             // generic status report screen
             MAVLinkInterface.CreateIProgressReporterDialogue += title =>
-                new ProgressReporterDialogue() {StartPosition = FormStartPosition.CenterScreen, Text = title};
+            {
+                var ret = new ProgressReporterDialogue() {StartPosition = FormStartPosition.CenterScreen, Text = title};
+                ThemeManager.ApplyThemeTo(ret);
+                return ret;
+            };
 
             Console.WriteLine("Setup proxy");
             try