diff --git a/examples/serial_example.cc b/examples/serial_example.cc
index 35c4a74..27857ff 100644
--- a/examples/serial_example.cc
+++ b/examples/serial_example.cc
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <iostream>
+#include <stdio.h>
 
 #include <boost/thread.hpp>
 
@@ -7,14 +8,17 @@
 
 int run(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-    if(argc < 2) {
-        std::cerr << "Usage: test_serial <serial port address>" << std::endl;
+    if(argc < 3) {
+        std::cerr << "Usage: test_serial <serial port address> <baudrate>" << std::endl;
         return 0;
     }
     std::string port(argv[1]);
-    
+    unsigned long baud = 0;
+
+    sscanf(argv[2], "%lu", &baud);
+
     // port, baudrate, timeout in milliseconds
-    serial::Serial serial(port, 115200, 250);
+    serial::Serial serial(port, baud, 250);
     
     std::cout << "Is the serial port open?";
     if(serial.isOpen())
diff --git a/include/serial/serial.h b/include/serial/serial.h
index fa21c72..e924abc 100644
--- a/include/serial/serial.h
+++ b/include/serial/serial.h
@@ -83,39 +83,53 @@ typedef enum {
   FLOWCONTROL_HARDWARE
 } flowcontrol_t;
 
-class SerialExecption : public std::exception {
-  const char * e_what;
+class SerialExecption : public std::exception
+{
+  const char* e_what_;
 public:
-  SerialExecption(const char *description) {e_what=description;};
-  virtual const char* what() const throw() {
-        std::stringstream ss;
-        ss << "SerialException " << this->e_what << " failed.";
-        return ss.str().c_str();
+  SerialExecption (const char *description) : e_what_ (description) {}
+
+  virtual const char* what () const throw ()
+  {
+    std::stringstream ss;
+    ss << "SerialException " << e_what_ << " failed.";
+    return ss.str ().c_str ();
   }
 };
 
-class IOException : public std::exception {
-    const char * e_what;
+class IOException : public std::exception
+{
+  const char* e_what_;
+  int errno_;
 public:
-    IOException(const char * description) {e_what = description;}
+  explicit IOException (int errnum) : e_what_ (strerror (errnum)), errno_(errnum) {}
+  explicit IOException (const char * description) : e_what_ (description), errno_(0) {}
 
-    virtual const char* what() const throw() {
-        std::stringstream ss;
-        ss << "IO Exception " << this->e_what << " failed.";
-        return ss.str().c_str();
-    }
+  int getErrorNumber () { return errno_; }
+
+  virtual const char* what () const throw ()
+  {
+    std::stringstream ss;
+    if (errno_ == 0)
+      ss << "IO Exception " << e_what_ << " failed.";
+    else
+      ss << "IO Exception " << errno_ << ":" << e_what_ << " failed.";
+    return ss.str ().c_str ();
+  }
 };
 
-class PortNotOpenedException : public std::exception {
-  const char * e_what;
+class PortNotOpenedException : public std::exception
+{
+  const char * e_what_;
 public:
-    PortNotOpenedException(const char * description) {e_what = description;}
+  PortNotOpenedException (const char * description) : e_what_ (description) {}
 
-    virtual const char* what() const throw() {
+  virtual const char* what () const throw ()
+  {
     std::stringstream ss;
-    ss << e_what << " called before port was opened.";
-        return ss.str().c_str();
-    }
+    ss << e_what_ << " called before port was opened.";
+    return ss.str ().c_str ();
+  }
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/impl/unix.cc b/src/impl/unix.cc
index b598024..24ad257 100644
--- a/src/impl/unix.cc
+++ b/src/impl/unix.cc
@@ -64,7 +64,19 @@ Serial::SerialImpl::open ()
 
   if (fd_ == -1)
   {
-    throw IOException ("invalid file descriptor");
+    switch (errno)
+    {
+      case EINTR:
+        // Recurse because this is a recoverable error.
+        open ();
+        return;
+      case ENFILE:
+      case EMFILE:
+        throw IOException ("to many file handles open");
+        break;
+      default:
+        throw IOException (errno);
+    }
   }
 
   reconfigurePort();
@@ -215,7 +227,7 @@ Serial::SerialImpl::available ()
   }
   else
   {
-    throw IOException ("ioctl");
+    throw IOException (errno);
   }
 }
 
@@ -244,8 +256,7 @@ Serial::SerialImpl::read (char* buf, size_t size)
 
       if (r == -1)
       {
-        perror("select()");
-        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        throw IOException (errno);
       }
     }
 
@@ -276,12 +287,27 @@ Serial::SerialImpl::read (char* buf, size_t size)
 size_t
 Serial::SerialImpl::write (const string &data)
 {
-  if (isOpen_ == false) {
+  if (isOpen_ == false)
+  {
     throw PortNotOpenedException ("Serial::write");
   }
+
   ssize_t n = ::write (fd_, data.c_str (), data.length ());
-  if (n == -1) {
-    throw IOException ("Write");
+
+  if (n != static_cast<ssize_t> (data.length ()))
+  {
+    throw IOException ("Write did not complete");
+  }
+  else if (n == -1)
+  {
+    if (errno == EINTR)
+    {
+      return write (data);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      throw IOException (errno);
+    }
   }
   return static_cast<size_t> (n);
 }
diff --git a/src/serial.cc b/src/serial.cc
index a024538..c8ac752 100644
--- a/src/serial.cc
+++ b/src/serial.cc
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ Serial::readlines(string eol)
 {
   if (pimpl_->getTimeout () < 0)
   {
-    throw "Error, must be set for readlines";
+    throw invalid_argument ("Error, must be set for readlines");
   }
   size_t leneol = eol.length ();
   vector<string> lines;
@@ -339,3 +339,4 @@ bool Serial::getCD ()
 {
   return pimpl_->getCD ();
 }
+
diff --git a/tests/proof_of_concepts/python_serial_test.py b/tests/proof_of_concepts/python_serial_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f92b84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/proof_of_concepts/python_serial_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import serial, sys
+
+if len(sys.argv) != 2:
+    print "python: Usage_serial_test <port name like: /dev/ttyUSB0>"
+    sys.exit(1)
+
+sio = serial.Serial(sys.argv[1], 115200)
+sio.timeout = 250
+
+while True:
+    sio.write("Testing.")
+    print sio.read(8)
+