diff --git a/devicehandlers/DeviceCommunicationIF.h b/devicehandlers/DeviceCommunicationIF.h
index 6f271504..931fc8b5 100644
--- a/devicehandlers/DeviceCommunicationIF.h
+++ b/devicehandlers/DeviceCommunicationIF.h
@@ -46,6 +46,18 @@ public:
 
 	virtual ~DeviceCommunicationIF() {}
 
+	/**
+	 * @brief Device specific initialization, using the cookie.
+	 * @details
+	 * The cookie is already prepared in the factory. If the communication
+	 * interface needs to be set up in some way and requires cookie information,
+	 * this can be performed in this function, which is called on device handler
+	 * initialization.
+	 * @param cookie
+	 * @return
+	 */
+	virtual ReturnValue_t initializeInterface(CookieIF * cookie) = 0;
+
 	/**
 	 * Called by DHB in the SEND_WRITE doSendWrite().
 	 * This function is used to send data to the physical device
diff --git a/devicehandlers/DeviceHandlerBase.cpp b/devicehandlers/DeviceHandlerBase.cpp
index ebb361d9..ad699508 100644
--- a/devicehandlers/DeviceHandlerBase.cpp
+++ b/devicehandlers/DeviceHandlerBase.cpp
@@ -102,11 +102,10 @@ ReturnValue_t DeviceHandlerBase::initialize() {
 		return RETURN_FAILED;
 	}
 
-//	result = communicationInterface->open(&cookie, logicalAddress,
-//			maxDeviceReplyLen, comParameter1, comParameter2);
-//	if (result != RETURN_OK) {
-//		return result;
-//	}
+	result = communicationInterface->initializeInterface(comCookie);
+	if (result != RETURN_OK) {
+		return result;
+	}
 
 	IPCStore = objectManager->get<StorageManagerIF>(objects::IPC_STORE);
 	if (IPCStore == NULL) {
diff --git a/devicehandlers/DeviceHandlerBase.h b/devicehandlers/DeviceHandlerBase.h
index 5faaa8e0..dcca2cc4 100644
--- a/devicehandlers/DeviceHandlerBase.h
+++ b/devicehandlers/DeviceHandlerBase.h
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ protected:
 	 * indicates either that all raw messages to and from the device should be sent to #theOneWhoWantsToReadRawTraffic
 	 * or that all device TM should be downlinked to #theOneWhoWantsToReadRawTraffic
 	 */
-	enum WiretappingMode {
+	enum WiretappingMode: uint8_t {
 		OFF = 0, RAW = 1, TM = 2
 	} wiretappingMode;