diff --git a/platform/qt/dmxwidget/dmxwidget.cpp b/platform/qt/dmxwidget/dmxwidget.cpp
index 896437e..6d58d94 100644
--- a/platform/qt/dmxwidget/dmxwidget.cpp
+++ b/platform/qt/dmxwidget/dmxwidget.cpp
@@ -60,19 +60,23 @@ void DmxWidget::close()
 QList<WidgetInfo> DmxWidget::availableWidgets()
 {
   QList<WidgetInfo> wdgts;
+  // evaluate all system serial ports
   const auto ports = QSerialPortInfo::availablePorts();
   for (const QSerialPortInfo &port : ports) {
-      auto widget = new DmxWidget();
-      widget->setPort(port);
-      widget->open();
-      if (widget->isConnected())
-      {
-          WidgetInfo wdgt;
-          wdgt.serialNo = widget->serialNumber();
-          wdgt.port = port;
-          wdgts.push_back(wdgt);
-      }
-      delete widget;
+    // try to open a widget on each port
+    auto widget = new DmxWidget();
+    widget->setPort(port);
+    widget->open();
+    if (widget->isConnected())
+    {
+      // add ports with valid widgets to the list
+      WidgetInfo wdgt;
+      wdgt.serialNo = widget->serialNumber();
+      wdgt.fwVersion = widget->firmwareVersion();
+      wdgt.port = port;
+      wdgts.push_back(wdgt);
+    }
+    delete widget;
   }
   return wdgts;
 }
diff --git a/platform/qt/dmxwidget/dmxwidget.h b/platform/qt/dmxwidget/dmxwidget.h
index 1afb768..1cf7c85 100644
--- a/platform/qt/dmxwidget/dmxwidget.h
+++ b/platform/qt/dmxwidget/dmxwidget.h
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ using ENTTEC::Pro::DMX_RX_MODE;
 struct WidgetInfo
 {
     uint32_t serialNo;
+    uint16_t fwVersion;
     QSerialPortInfo port;
 };