diff --git a/src/board_controller/ble_lib_board.cpp b/src/board_controller/ble_lib_board.cpp
index 145e82352..be231b073 100644
--- a/src/board_controller/ble_lib_board.cpp
+++ b/src/board_controller/ble_lib_board.cpp
@@ -610,6 +610,29 @@ simpleble_err_t BLELibBoard::simpleble_peripheral_manufacturer_data_get (
     return func (handle, index, manufacturer_data);
 }
 
+simpleble_err_t BLELibBoard::simpleble_peripheral_read (simpleble_peripheral_t handle,
+    simpleble_uuid_t service, simpleble_uuid_t characteristic, uint8_t **data, size_t *data_length)
+{
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock (BLELibBoard::mutex);
+    if (BLELibBoard::dll_loader == NULL)
+    {
+        safe_logger (spdlog::level::err, "BLELibBoard::dll_loader is not initialized");
+        return SIMPLEBLE_FAILURE;
+    }
+    simpleble_err_t (*func) (simpleble_peripheral_t, simpleble_uuid_t, simpleble_uuid_t, uint8_t **,
+        size_t *) = (simpleble_err_t (*) (simpleble_peripheral_t, simpleble_uuid_t,
+        simpleble_uuid_t, uint8_t **,
+        size_t *))BLELibBoard::dll_loader->get_address ("simpleble_peripheral_read");
+    if (func == NULL)
+    {
+        safe_logger (
+            spdlog::level::err, "failed to get function address for simpleble_peripheral_read");
+        return SIMPLEBLE_FAILURE;
+    }
+
+    return func (handle, service, characteristic, data, data_length);
+}
+
 simpleble_err_t BLELibBoard::simpleble_peripheral_is_connected (
     simpleble_peripheral_t handle, bool *connected)
 {
diff --git a/src/board_controller/inc/ble_lib_board.h b/src/board_controller/inc/ble_lib_board.h
index 32cf196ad..b252d47a6 100644
--- a/src/board_controller/inc/ble_lib_board.h
+++ b/src/board_controller/inc/ble_lib_board.h
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ class BLELibBoard : public Board
     size_t simpleble_peripheral_manufacturer_data_count (simpleble_peripheral_t handle);
     simpleble_err_t simpleble_peripheral_manufacturer_data_get (simpleble_peripheral_t handle,
         size_t index, simpleble_manufacturer_data_t *manufacturer_data);
+    simpleble_err_t simpleble_peripheral_read (simpleble_peripheral_t handle,
+        simpleble_uuid_t service, simpleble_uuid_t characteristic, uint8_t **data,
+        size_t *data_length);
     simpleble_err_t simpleble_peripheral_is_connected (
         simpleble_peripheral_t handle, bool *connected);
 
diff --git a/src/board_controller/openbci/ganglion_native.cpp b/src/board_controller/openbci/ganglion_native.cpp
index a96d90cf1..986b8b1ee 100644
--- a/src/board_controller/openbci/ganglion_native.cpp
+++ b/src/board_controller/openbci/ganglion_native.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #define GANGLION_WRITE_CHAR "2d30c083-f39f-4ce6-923f-3484ea480596"
 #define GANGLION_NOTIFY_CHAR "2d30c082-f39f-4ce6-923f-3484ea480596"
+#define GANGLION_SOFTWARE_REVISION "00002a28-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb"
 
 
 static void ganglion_adapter_1_on_scan_start (simpleble_adapter_t adapter, void *board)
@@ -108,7 +109,6 @@ int GanglionNative::prepare_session ()
             lk, params.timeout * sec, [this] { return this->ganglion_peripheral != NULL; }))
     {
         safe_logger (spdlog::level::info, "Found GanglionNative device");
-        safe_logger (spdlog::level::info, "Detected firmware version {}", firmware);
     }
     else
     {
@@ -162,11 +162,21 @@ int GanglionNative::prepare_session ()
                 res = (int)BrainFlowExitCodes::BOARD_NOT_READY_ERROR;
             }
 
-            safe_logger (spdlog::level::trace, "found servce {}", service.uuid.value);
+            safe_logger (spdlog::level::trace, "found service {}", service.uuid.value);
             for (size_t j = 0; j < service.characteristic_count; j++)
             {
-                safe_logger (spdlog::level::trace, "found characteristic {}",
-                    service.characteristics[j].uuid.value);
+                // Read the software revision characteristic to get the firmware version
+                if (strcmp (service.characteristics[j].uuid.value, GANGLION_SOFTWARE_REVISION) == 0)
+                {
+                    uint8_t *data;
+                    size_t data_length;
+                    simpleble_peripheral_read (ganglion_peripheral, service.uuid,
+                        service.characteristics[j].uuid, &data, &data_length);
+
+                    // Data should be in the form x.x.x stored as ASCII values in the data buffer
+                    firmware = (data[0] == '3') ? 3 : 2;
+                    safe_logger (spdlog::level::info, "Detected firmware version {}", firmware);
+                }
 
                 if (strcmp (service.characteristics[j].uuid.value,
                         GANGLION_WRITE_CHAR) == 0) // Write Characteristics
@@ -444,7 +454,6 @@ void GanglionNative::adapter_1_on_scan_found (
 
     if (found)
     {
-        firmware = strncmp (peripheral_identified, "Ganglion 1.3", 12) == 0 ? 3 : 2;
         {
             std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk (m);
             ganglion_peripheral = peripheral;