diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 5b79fef74..556f9bc46 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ PROJECT_VER_MAJOR     := 1
 PROJECT_VER_MINOR     := 0
 PROJECT_VER_PATCH     := 0
 PROJECT_VER_BUILD     := beta
-PROJECT_VER_BUILD_NUM := 5
+PROJECT_VER_BUILD_NUM := 6
 
 BOARD_PYPORTAL 		:= samd51-pyportal
 BOARD_METRO_AIRLIFT := samd51-metro-airlift
diff --git a/library.properties b/library.properties
index 3dd07ca0a..2e40f21c6 100644
--- a/library.properties
+++ b/library.properties
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name=Adafruit WipperSnapper
-version=1.0.0-beta.4
+version=1.0.0-beta.6
 author=Adafruit
 maintainer=Adafruit <adafruitio@adafruit.com>
 sentence=Arduino library to access WipperSnapper
diff --git a/src/Wippersnapper.h b/src/Wippersnapper.h
index 2acd8c6c5..0f87bf585 100644
--- a/src/Wippersnapper.h
+++ b/src/Wippersnapper.h
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
 #endif
 
 #define WS_VERSION                                                             \
-  "1.0.0-beta.5" ///< WipperSnapper app. version (semver-formatted)
+  "1.0.0-beta.6" ///< WipperSnapper app. version (semver-formatted)
 
 // Reserved Adafruit IO MQTT topics
 #define TOPIC_IO_THROTTLE "/throttle" ///< Adafruit IO Throttle MQTT Topic
diff --git a/src/network_interfaces/Wippersnapper_AIRLIFT.h b/src/network_interfaces/Wippersnapper_AIRLIFT.h
index cff4e0ce9..2f5d73229 100644
--- a/src/network_interfaces/Wippersnapper_AIRLIFT.h
+++ b/src/network_interfaces/Wippersnapper_AIRLIFT.h
@@ -50,10 +50,14 @@ class Wippersnapper_AIRLIFT : public Wippersnapper {
     _ssPin = 10;
     _ackPin = 7;
     _rstPin = 5;
+    _gpio0Pin = -1;
     _wifi = &SPIWIFI;
     _ssid = 0;
     _pass = 0;
     _mqtt_client = new WiFiSSLClient;
+
+    // setup ESP32 co-processor pins during init.
+    WiFi.setPins(_ssPin, _ackPin, _rstPin, _gpio0Pin, _wifi);
   }
 
   /**************************************************************************/
@@ -193,7 +197,7 @@ class Wippersnapper_AIRLIFT : public Wippersnapper {
 protected:
   const char *_ssid;
   const char *_pass;
-  String _fv = "0.0.0";
+  String _fv;
   uint8_t mac[6] = {0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00};
   int _ssPin, _ackPin, _rstPin, _gpio0Pin = -1;
   WiFiSSLClient *_mqtt_client;
@@ -208,23 +212,19 @@ class Wippersnapper_AIRLIFT : public Wippersnapper {
     if (strlen(_ssid) == 0) {
       _status = WS_SSID_INVALID;
     } else {
-      // setup ESP32 pins
-      if (_ssPin != -1) {
-        WiFi.setPins(_ssPin, _ackPin, _rstPin, _gpio0Pin, _wifi);
+
+      // check if co-processor connected first
+      if (WiFi.status() == WL_NO_MODULE) {
+        WS_DEBUG_PRINT("No ESP32 module detected!");
+        return;
       }
 
-      // validate up-to-date nina-fw version
+      // validate the nina-fw version
       firmwareCheck();
 
       // disconnect from possible previous connection
       _disconnect();
 
-      // check for esp32 module
-      if (WiFi.status() == WL_NO_MODULE) {
-        WS_DEBUG_PRINT("No ESP32 module detected!");
-        return;
-      }
-
       WiFi.begin(_ssid, _pass);
       _status = WS_NET_DISCONNECTED;
     }