diff --git a/rtu/dev/boilerv_rtu.lua b/rtu/dev/boilerv_rtu.lua
index 0197421..cb4f701 100644
--- a/rtu/dev/boilerv_rtu.lua
+++ b/rtu/dev/boilerv_rtu.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ local boilerv_rtu = {}
 ---@param boiler table
 ---@return rtu_device interface, boolean faulted
 function boilerv_rtu.new(boiler)
-    local unit = rtu.init_unit()
+    local unit = rtu.init_unit(boiler)
 
     -- disable auto fault clearing
     boiler.__p_clear_fault()
diff --git a/rtu/dev/dynamicv_rtu.lua b/rtu/dev/dynamicv_rtu.lua
index 75540a3..987e366 100644
--- a/rtu/dev/dynamicv_rtu.lua
+++ b/rtu/dev/dynamicv_rtu.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ local dynamicv_rtu = {}
 ---@param dynamic_tank table
 ---@return rtu_device interface, boolean faulted
 function dynamicv_rtu.new(dynamic_tank)
-    local unit = rtu.init_unit()
+    local unit = rtu.init_unit(dynamic_tank)
 
     -- disable auto fault clearing
     dynamic_tank.__p_clear_fault()
diff --git a/rtu/dev/envd_rtu.lua b/rtu/dev/envd_rtu.lua
index 2d576bc..f6dfa09 100644
--- a/rtu/dev/envd_rtu.lua
+++ b/rtu/dev/envd_rtu.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ local envd_rtu = {}
 ---@param envd table
 ---@return rtu_device interface, boolean faulted
 function envd_rtu.new(envd)
-    local unit = rtu.init_unit()
+    local unit = rtu.init_unit(envd)
 
     -- disable auto fault clearing
     envd.__p_clear_fault()
diff --git a/rtu/dev/imatrix_rtu.lua b/rtu/dev/imatrix_rtu.lua
index a20d1a5..f3b7f5c 100644
--- a/rtu/dev/imatrix_rtu.lua
+++ b/rtu/dev/imatrix_rtu.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ local imatrix_rtu = {}
 ---@param imatrix table
 ---@return rtu_device interface, boolean faulted
 function imatrix_rtu.new(imatrix)
-    local unit = rtu.init_unit()
+    local unit = rtu.init_unit(imatrix)
 
     -- disable auto fault clearing
     imatrix.__p_clear_fault()
diff --git a/rtu/dev/sna_rtu.lua b/rtu/dev/sna_rtu.lua
index a3e678e..209ebb2 100644
--- a/rtu/dev/sna_rtu.lua
+++ b/rtu/dev/sna_rtu.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ local sna_rtu = {}
 ---@param sna table
 ---@return rtu_device interface, boolean faulted
 function sna_rtu.new(sna)
-    local unit = rtu.init_unit()
+    local unit = rtu.init_unit(sna)
 
     -- disable auto fault clearing
     sna.__p_clear_fault()
diff --git a/rtu/dev/sps_rtu.lua b/rtu/dev/sps_rtu.lua
index 428f7bb..448dc48 100644
--- a/rtu/dev/sps_rtu.lua
+++ b/rtu/dev/sps_rtu.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ local sps_rtu = {}
 ---@param sps table
 ---@return rtu_device interface, boolean faulted
 function sps_rtu.new(sps)
-    local unit = rtu.init_unit()
+    local unit = rtu.init_unit(sps)
 
     -- disable auto fault clearing
     sps.__p_clear_fault()
diff --git a/rtu/dev/turbinev_rtu.lua b/rtu/dev/turbinev_rtu.lua
index 17e6675..4bfad81 100644
--- a/rtu/dev/turbinev_rtu.lua
+++ b/rtu/dev/turbinev_rtu.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ local turbinev_rtu = {}
 ---@param turbine table
 ---@return rtu_device interface, boolean faulted
 function turbinev_rtu.new(turbine)
-    local unit = rtu.init_unit()
+    local unit = rtu.init_unit(turbine)
 
     -- disable auto fault clearing
     turbine.__p_clear_fault()
diff --git a/rtu/modbus.lua b/rtu/modbus.lua
index 44900a0..d55907f 100644
--- a/rtu/modbus.lua
+++ b/rtu/modbus.lua
@@ -37,12 +37,7 @@ function modbus.new(rtu_dev, use_parallel_read)
                     end)
                 else
                     readings[i], access_fault = rtu_dev.read_coil(addr)
-
-                    if access_fault then
-                        return_ok = false
-                        readings = MODBUS_EXCODE.SERVER_DEVICE_FAIL
-                        break
-                    end
+                    if access_fault then break end
                 end
             end
 
@@ -86,12 +81,7 @@ function modbus.new(rtu_dev, use_parallel_read)
                     end)
                 else
                     readings[i], access_fault = rtu_dev.read_di(addr)
-
-                    if access_fault then
-                        return_ok = false
-                        readings = MODBUS_EXCODE.SERVER_DEVICE_FAIL
-                        break
-                    end
+                    if access_fault then break end
                 end
             end
 
@@ -135,12 +125,7 @@ function modbus.new(rtu_dev, use_parallel_read)
                     end)
                 else
                     readings[i], access_fault = rtu_dev.read_holding_reg(addr)
-
-                    if access_fault then
-                        return_ok = false
-                        readings = MODBUS_EXCODE.SERVER_DEVICE_FAIL
-                        break
-                    end
+                    if access_fault then break end
                 end
             end
 
@@ -184,12 +169,7 @@ function modbus.new(rtu_dev, use_parallel_read)
                     end)
                 else
                     readings[i], access_fault = rtu_dev.read_input_reg(addr)
-
-                    if access_fault then
-                        return_ok = false
-                        readings = MODBUS_EXCODE.SERVER_DEVICE_FAIL
-                        break
-                    end
+                    if access_fault then break end
                 end
             end
 
diff --git a/rtu/rtu.lua b/rtu/rtu.lua
index 6c2b01f..bac230f 100644
--- a/rtu/rtu.lua
+++ b/rtu/rtu.lua
@@ -67,9 +67,11 @@ function rtu.load_config()
     return cfv.valid()
 end
 
--- create a new RTU unit
+-- create a new RTU unit<br>
+-- if this is for a PPM peripheral, auto fault clearing MUST stay enabled once access begins
 ---@nodiscard
-function rtu.init_unit()
+---@param device table|nil peripheral device, if applicable
+function rtu.init_unit(device)
     local self = {
         discrete_inputs = {},
         coils = {},
@@ -86,6 +88,10 @@ function rtu.init_unit()
     ---@class rtu
     local protected = {}
 
+    -- function to check if the peripheral (if exists) is faulted
+    local function _is_faulted() return false end
+    if device then _is_faulted = device.__p_is_faulted end
+
     -- refresh IO count
     local function _count_io()
         self.io_count_cache = { #self.discrete_inputs, #self.coils, #self.input_regs, #self.holding_regs }
@@ -112,9 +118,8 @@ function rtu.init_unit()
     ---@param di_addr integer
     ---@return any value, boolean access_fault
     function public.read_di(di_addr)
-        ppm.clear_fault()
         local value = self.discrete_inputs[di_addr].read()
-        return value, ppm.is_faulted()
+        return value, _is_faulted()
     end
 
     -- coils: single bit read-write
@@ -133,9 +138,8 @@ function rtu.init_unit()
     ---@param coil_addr integer
     ---@return any value, boolean access_fault
     function public.read_coil(coil_addr)
-        ppm.clear_fault()
         local value = self.coils[coil_addr].read()
-        return value, ppm.is_faulted()
+        return value, _is_faulted()
     end
 
     -- write coil
@@ -143,9 +147,8 @@ function rtu.init_unit()
     ---@param value any
     ---@return boolean access_fault
     function public.write_coil(coil_addr, value)
-        ppm.clear_fault()
         self.coils[coil_addr].write(value)
-        return ppm.is_faulted()
+        return _is_faulted()
     end
 
     -- input registers: multi-bit read-only
@@ -163,9 +166,8 @@ function rtu.init_unit()
     ---@param reg_addr integer
     ---@return any value, boolean access_fault
     function public.read_input_reg(reg_addr)
-        ppm.clear_fault()
         local value = self.input_regs[reg_addr].read()
-        return value, ppm.is_faulted()
+        return value, _is_faulted()
     end
 
     -- holding registers: multi-bit read-write
@@ -184,9 +186,8 @@ function rtu.init_unit()
     ---@param reg_addr integer
     ---@return any value, boolean access_fault
     function public.read_holding_reg(reg_addr)
-        ppm.clear_fault()
         local value = self.holding_regs[reg_addr].read()
-        return value, ppm.is_faulted()
+        return value, _is_faulted()
     end
 
     -- write holding register
@@ -194,9 +195,8 @@ function rtu.init_unit()
     ---@param value any
     ---@return boolean access_fault
     function public.write_holding_reg(reg_addr, value)
-        ppm.clear_fault()
         self.holding_regs[reg_addr].write(value)
-        return ppm.is_faulted()
+        return _is_faulted()
     end
 
     -- public RTU device access
diff --git a/rtu/startup.lua b/rtu/startup.lua
index 1c5a4a2..90b81a0 100644
--- a/rtu/startup.lua
+++ b/rtu/startup.lua
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ local sna_rtu      = require("rtu.dev.sna_rtu")
 local sps_rtu      = require("rtu.dev.sps_rtu")
 local turbinev_rtu = require("rtu.dev.turbinev_rtu")
 
-local RTU_VERSION = "v1.7.14"
+local RTU_VERSION = "v1.7.15"
 
 local RTU_UNIT_TYPE = types.RTU_UNIT_TYPE
 local RTU_UNIT_HW_STATE = databus.RTU_UNIT_HW_STATE
diff --git a/scada-common/ppm.lua b/scada-common/ppm.lua
index fb98161..0d02663 100644
--- a/scada-common/ppm.lua
+++ b/scada-common/ppm.lua
@@ -131,31 +131,33 @@ local function peri_init(iface)
 
     local mt = {
         __index = function (_, key)
-            -- this will continuously be counting calls here as faults
-            -- unlike other functions, faults here can't be cleared as it is just not defined
-            if self.fault_counts[key] == nil then
-                self.fault_counts[key] = 0
-            end
-
-            -- function failed
-            self.faulted = true
-            self.last_fault = UNDEFINED_FIELD
-
-            ppm_sys.faulted = true
-            ppm_sys.last_fault = UNDEFINED_FIELD
-
-            if not ppm_sys.mute and (self.fault_counts[key] % REPORT_FREQUENCY == 0) then
-                local count_str = ""
-                if self.fault_counts[key] > 0 then
-                    count_str = " [" .. self.fault_counts[key] .. " total calls]"
+            return (function ()
+                -- this will continuously be counting calls here as faults
+                -- unlike other functions, faults here can't be cleared as it is just not defined
+                if self.fault_counts[key] == nil then
+                    self.fault_counts[key] = 0
                 end
 
-                log.error(util.c("PPM: caught undefined function ", key, "()", count_str))
-            end
+                -- function failed
+                self.faulted = true
+                self.last_fault = UNDEFINED_FIELD
 
-            self.fault_counts[key] = self.fault_counts[key] + 1
+                ppm_sys.faulted = true
+                ppm_sys.last_fault = UNDEFINED_FIELD
 
-            return (function () return UNDEFINED_FIELD end)
+                if not ppm_sys.mute and (self.fault_counts[key] % REPORT_FREQUENCY == 0) then
+                    local count_str = ""
+                    if self.fault_counts[key] > 0 then
+                        count_str = " [" .. self.fault_counts[key] .. " total calls]"
+                    end
+
+                    log.error(util.c("PPM: caught undefined function ", key, "()", count_str))
+                end
+
+                self.fault_counts[key] = self.fault_counts[key] + 1
+
+                return UNDEFINED_FIELD
+            end)
         end
     }