diff --git a/serialport.c b/serialport.c
index d088398..e6097ee 100644
--- a/serialport.c
+++ b/serialport.c
@@ -590,6 +590,15 @@ SP_API enum sp_return sp_open(struct sp_port *port, enum sp_mode flags)
 		RETURN_CODEVAL(ret);
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Assume a default baudrate if the OS does not provide one.
+	 * Cannot assign -1 here since Windows holds the baudrate in
+	 * the DCB and does not configure the rate individually.
+	 */
+	if (config.baudrate == 0) {
+		config.baudrate = 9600;
+	}
+
 	/* Set sane port settings. */
 #ifdef _WIN32
 	data.dcb.fBinary = TRUE;