diff --git a/light9/effecteval/effectloop.py b/light9/effecteval/effectloop.py
--- a/light9/effecteval/effectloop.py
+++ b/light9/effecteval/effectloop.py
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ class ControlBoard(object):
         """
         if color.shape != (1, 3):
             raise ValueError("color was %s" % color.shape)
-        self._dev.write('\x60\x04%s' + self._8bitMessage(color))
+        self._dev.write('\x60\x04' + self._8bitMessage(color))
         self._dev.flush()
 
         
diff --git a/rgbled/nanostrip.cc b/rgbled/nanostrip.cc
--- a/rgbled/nanostrip.cc
+++ b/rgbled/nanostrip.cc
@@ -55,12 +55,7 @@ int main(void) {
   init();
   pinMode(debugLed, OUTPUT);
 
-  pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
-  pinMode(6, OUTPUT);
-  pinMode(9, OUTPUT);
-  pinMode(10, OUTPUT);
-  pinMode(11, OUTPUT);
-  
+    
   strip0.begin();
   strip1.begin();
   intro();