diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index ff620f1..81f3d13 100644
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 <div class="max-w-7xl mx-auto px-6 py-2">
 
 	<div class="flex items-center justify-between mb-3">
-		<h1 class="text-2xl font-bold text-heading">OTAMan <span id="slogan" class="text-sm font-normal text-gray-500 dark:text-slate-400 ml-2" data-l10n="SIM OTA with a Human Face">SIM OTA with a Human Face</span> <span class="text-xs text-gray-400 dark:text-slate-500 ml-1">v1.9.22</span></h1>
+		<h1 class="text-2xl font-bold text-heading">OTAMan <span id="slogan" class="text-sm font-normal text-gray-500 dark:text-slate-400 ml-2" data-l10n="SIM OTA with a Human Face">SIM OTA with a Human Face</span> <span class="text-xs text-gray-400 dark:text-slate-500 ml-1">v1.9.23</span></h1>
 		<div class="flex items-center gap-4">
 			<button id="install-btn" class="px-2 py-1 text-xs rounded border border-gray-300 dark:border-slate-600 hover:bg-gray-200 dark:hover:bg-slate-700" style="display:none">INSTALL PWA [for offline use]</button>
 			<a href="https://github.com/anttro/otaman" target="_blank" class="text-xs text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-600 dark:text-slate-500 dark:hover:text-slate-300">github</a>
diff --git a/pysim_otaman_server/__main__.py b/pysim_otaman_server/__main__.py
index 3b74068..31f6e44 100644
--- a/pysim_otaman_server/__main__.py
+++ b/pysim_otaman_server/__main__.py
@@ -56,6 +56,23 @@ def main():
     rs = None
     sim_menu = None
     event_list = None
+    # Auto-detect PC/SC reader if none was explicitly specified.
+    # Handles late pcscd startup and USB enumeration delays.
+    if opts.pcsc_dev is None and opts.pcsc_regex is None:
+        try:
+            from smartcard.System import readers
+            for attempt in range(3):
+                r = readers()
+                if r:
+                    sys.stderr.write('INIT: PC/SC reader detected: %s\n' % r[0])
+                    opts.pcsc_dev = 0
+                    break
+                if attempt < 2:
+                    sys.stderr.write('INIT: no PC/SC readers found, retrying in 2s...\n')
+                    time.sleep(2)
+        except Exception:
+            pass  # smartcard module not available or pcscd unreachable
+
     try:
         kwargs = {}
         if opts.apdu_trace:
diff --git a/pysim_otaman_server/server.py b/pysim_otaman_server/server.py
index e86f545..67d5271 100644
--- a/pysim_otaman_server/server.py
+++ b/pysim_otaman_server/server.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from osmocom.construct import GsmOrUcs2Adapter
 from osmocom.tlv import BER_TLV_IE
 
 
-VERSION = '1.9.22'
+VERSION = '1.9.23'
 
 MAX_ENVELOPE_SEGMENTS = 5  # max SMS segments for outgoing C-APDU in ENVELOPE
 
diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index cf49306..74f7212 100755
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -10,10 +10,14 @@ VENV_DIR="$SCRIPT_DIR/.venv"
 
 # Auto-detect reader
 READER_ARGS=""
-if command -v pcscd > /dev/null 2>&1 && pgrep -x pcscd > /dev/null 2>&1; then
-    READER_ARGS="-p 0"
-elif [ -e /dev/ttyUSB0 ]; then
-    READER_ARGS="-d /dev/ttyUSB0"
+if command -v pcscd > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+    # Give pcscd a moment if it's not running yet (USB enumeration delay)
+    if ! pgrep -x pcscd > /dev/null 2>&1 && ! pgrep -x pcscd.bin > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+        sleep 1
+    fi
+    if pgrep -x pcscd > /dev/null 2>&1 || pgrep -x pcscd.bin > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+        READER_ARGS="-p 0"
+    fi
 fi
 
 SERVER=""