diff --git a/ledd/controller.py b/ledd/controller.py
index 8e96500..82c6e1e 100644
--- a/ledd/controller.py
+++ b/ledd/controller.py
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ class Controller(Base):
     A controller controls a number of stripes.
     """
 
-    @reconstructor
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self._mode = None
@@ -65,6 +64,13 @@ class Controller(Base):
         self._address = int(self.address, 16)
         self.pwm_freq = self._pwm_freq
 
+    @reconstructor
+    def init_on_load(self):
+        self._mode = None
+        self.bus = smbus.SMBus(self.i2c_device)
+        self._address = int(self.address, 16)
+        self.pwm_freq = self._pwm_freq
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return "<Controller stripes={} cid={}>".format(len(self.stripes), self.id)