diff --git a/components/ratgdo/ratgdo.cpp b/components/ratgdo/ratgdo.cpp
index 66ee334..a7ab774 100644
--- a/components/ratgdo/ratgdo.cpp
+++ b/components/ratgdo/ratgdo.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ void RATGDOComponent::setup() {
 	  this->rollingCodeCounter = 0;
     }
 
-  swSerial.begin(9600, SWSERIAL_8N2, -1, OUTPUT_GDO, true);
+  this->swSerial.begin(9600, SWSERIAL_8N2, -1, OUTPUT_GDO, true);
   pinMode(TRIGGER_OPEN, INPUT_PULLUP);
   pinMode(TRIGGER_CLOSE, INPUT_PULLUP);
   pinMode(TRIGGER_LIGHT, INPUT_PULLUP);
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ void RATGDOComponent::transmit(byte *payload, unsigned int length) {
   digitalWrite(OUTPUT_GDO, LOW); // bring the line low
 
   delayMicroseconds(1260); // "LOW" pulse duration before the message start
-  swSerial.write(payload, length);
+  this->swSerial.write(payload, length);
 }
 
 void RATGDOComponent::sync() {
diff --git a/components/ratgdo/ratgdo.h b/components/ratgdo/ratgdo.h
index b0004f3..0c6abf0 100644
--- a/components/ratgdo/ratgdo.h
+++ b/components/ratgdo/ratgdo.h
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ extern unsigned int rollingCodeCounter;
 namespace esphome {
 namespace ratgdo {
 
-SoftwareSerial swSerial;
 
 
 class RATGDOComponent;                  // this component
@@ -56,6 +55,7 @@ class RATGDOComponent : public Component {
     /********************************** GLOBAL VARS
      * *****************************************/
     unsigned int rollingCodeCounter;
+    SoftwareSerial swSerial;
     byte rollingCode[CODE_LENGTH];
     String doorState =
         "unknown"; // will be