diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 5d173a8..a700518 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ v.0.5dev (ongoing development)
  * enable building lcdproc client on FreeBSD AMD64 platform (M. Dolze)
  * Autoconf fixes for Net/FreeBSD (M. Dolze)
  * fixes for the lcpdroc client iface screen on *BSD (M.Dolze)
- * key support for hd44780/lcd2usb (M. Dolze)
+ + key support for hd44780/lcd2usb (M. Dolze)
+ + option Priority for NoritakeVFD (idea: Richard Muratti)
 
 v.0.5.2
  * fix switching on/off the Load screen in lcdproc client using the menu
diff --git a/LCDd.conf b/LCDd.conf
index 98df4d6..c3a384e 100644
--- a/LCDd.conf
+++ b/LCDd.conf
@@ -744,6 +744,9 @@ Brightness=255
 # set the serial port speed [default: 9600, legal: 1200, 2400, 9600, 19200, 115200]
 Speed=9600
 
+# Set serial data parity [default: 0 (None), legal: 0(=none), 1(=odd), 2(=even)]
+Parity=0
+
 # re-initialize VFD ?
 #Reboot=yes
 
diff --git a/docs/lcdproc-user/drivers/NoritakeVFD.docbook b/docs/lcdproc-user/drivers/NoritakeVFD.docbook
index e588175..1416d12 100644
--- a/docs/lcdproc-user/drivers/NoritakeVFD.docbook
+++ b/docs/lcdproc-user/drivers/NoritakeVFD.docbook
@@ -68,6 +68,24 @@ This section talks about using LCDproc with text mode VFD displays from
   </para></listitem>
 </varlistentry>
 
+<varlistentry>
+  <term>
+    <command>Parity=</command>
+    <arg choice="plain">
+    <group choice="req">
+      <arg choice="plain"><literal><emphasis>0</emphasis></literal></arg>
+      <arg choice="plain"><literal>1</literal></arg>
+      <arg choice="plain"><literal>2</literal></arg>
+    </group>
+    </arg>
+  </term>
+  <listitem><para>
+    Set the parity for communication with the device to even parity (<literal>2</literal>),
+    odd parity (<literal>1</literal>) or no parity (<literal>0</literal>).
+    If not given, it defaults to <literal>0</literal>.
+  </para></listitem>
+</varlistentry>
+
 <varlistentry>
   <term>
     <command>Reboot=</command>
diff --git a/server/drivers/NoritakeVFD.c b/server/drivers/NoritakeVFD.c
index 9c65cc0..986b17d 100644
--- a/server/drivers/NoritakeVFD.c
+++ b/server/drivers/NoritakeVFD.c
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ typedef struct driver_private_data {
 	char device[200];
 	int fd;
 	int speed;
+	int parity;
 	/* dimensions */
 	int width, height;
 	int cellwidth, cellheight;
@@ -150,12 +151,23 @@ NoritakeVFD_init (Driver *drvthis)
 	else if (tmp == 115200) p->speed = B115200;
 
 
+	/* Which parity */
+	tmp = drvthis->config_get_int(drvthis->name, "Parity", 0, DEFAULT_PARITY);
+	if ((tmp != 0) && (tmp != 1) && (tmp != 2) ) {
+		report(RPT_WARNING, "%s: Parity must be 0(=none), 1(=odd), 2(=even); using default %d",
+			drvthis->name, DEFAULT_PARITY);
+		tmp = DEFAULT_PARITY;
+	}
+	if (tmp != 0)
+	  p->parity = (tmp & 1) ? (PARENB | PARODD) : PARENB;
+
+
 	/* Reboot display? */
 	reboot = drvthis->config_get_bool(drvthis->name, "Reboot", 0, 0);
 
 	/* Set up io port correctly, and open it...*/
 	debug(RPT_DEBUG, "%s: Opening device: %s", __FUNCTION__, p->device);
-	p->fd = open (p->device, O_RDWR | O_NOCTTY | O_NDELAY);
+	p->fd = open(p->device, O_RDWR | O_NOCTTY | O_NDELAY);
 
 	if (p->fd == -1) {
 		report(RPT_ERR, "%s: open() of %s failed (%s)", drvthis->name, p->device, strerror(errno));
@@ -164,10 +176,13 @@ NoritakeVFD_init (Driver *drvthis)
 
 	tcgetattr(p->fd, &portset);
 
-	// We use RAW mode
+	// We use RAW mode (with varying parity)
 #ifdef HAVE_CFMAKERAW
 	// The easy way
 	cfmakeraw(&portset);
+	// set parity the way we want it
+	portset.c_cflag &= ~(PARENB | PARODD);
+	portset.c_cflag |= p->parity;
 #else
 	// The hard way
 	portset.c_iflag &= ~( IGNBRK | BRKINT | PARMRK | ISTRIP
@@ -175,8 +190,8 @@ NoritakeVFD_init (Driver *drvthis)
 	portset.c_oflag &= ~OPOST;
 	portset.c_lflag &= ~( ECHO | ECHONL | ICANON | ISIG | IEXTEN );
 	portset.c_cflag &= ~( CSIZE | PARENB | CRTSCTS );
-	portset.c_cflag |= CS8 | CREAD | CLOCAL;
-#endif
+	portset.c_cflag |= CS8 | CREAD | CLOCAL | p->parity;
+#endif                                           
 
 	// Set port speed
 	cfsetospeed(&portset, p->speed);
@@ -356,7 +371,7 @@ NoritakeVFD_autoscroll (Driver *drvthis, int on)
 }
 
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-// Get rid of the blinking curson
+// Get rid of the blinking cursor
 //
 static void
 NoritakeVFD_hidecursor (Driver *drvthis)
diff --git a/server/drivers/NoritakeVFD.h b/server/drivers/NoritakeVFD.h
index fb3a0c9..edbdb3c 100644
--- a/server/drivers/NoritakeVFD.h
+++ b/server/drivers/NoritakeVFD.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #define DEFAULT_SPEED		9600
 #define DEFAULT_BRIGHTNESS	140
 #define DEFAULT_SIZE		"20x4"
+#define DEFAULT_PARITY		0
 
 MODULE_EXPORT int  NoritakeVFD_init (Driver *drvthis);
 MODULE_EXPORT void NoritakeVFD_close (Driver *drvthis);