diff --git a/ft2232_spi.c b/ft2232_spi.c
index d853b09fb..e32d7f81e 100644
--- a/ft2232_spi.c
+++ b/ft2232_spi.c
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ static int ft2232_spi_init(void)
 	 */
 	uint32_t divisor = DEFAULT_DIVISOR;
 	int f;
-	char *arg;
+	char *arg, *arg2;
 	double mpsse_clk;
 
 	uint8_t cs_bits = 0x08;
@@ -499,8 +499,12 @@ static int ft2232_spi_init(void)
 	}
 
 	arg = extract_programmer_param("serial");
-	f = ftdi_usb_open_desc(&ftdic, ft2232_vid, ft2232_type, NULL, arg);
+	arg2 = extract_programmer_param("description");
+
+	f = ftdi_usb_open_desc(&ftdic, ft2232_vid, ft2232_type, arg2, arg);
+
 	free(arg);
+	free(arg2);
 
 	if (f < 0 && f != -5) {
 		msg_perr("Unable to open FTDI device: %d (%s)\n", f,