diff --git a/components/esptool_py/Makefile.projbuild b/components/esptool_py/Makefile.projbuild
index dce6b0af2..87b1f6c6b 100644
--- a/components/esptool_py/Makefile.projbuild
+++ b/components/esptool_py/Makefile.projbuild
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 # Component support for esptool.py. Doesn't do much by itself,
 # components have their own flash targets that can use these variables.
-ESPPORT ?= $(CONFIG_ESPTOOLPY_PORT)
+
+PYTHON ?= $(call dequote,$(CONFIG_PYTHON))
+
+ifdef CONFIG_ESPTOOLPY_PORT
+ESPPORT ?= $(shell $(PYTHON) $(IDF_PATH)/tools/findcp2102.py $(CONFIG_ESPTOOLPY_PORT))
+endif
 ESPBAUD ?= $(CONFIG_ESPTOOLPY_BAUD)
 ESPFLASHMODE ?= $(CONFIG_ESPTOOLPY_FLASHMODE)
 ESPFLASHFREQ ?= $(CONFIG_ESPTOOLPY_FLASHFREQ)
@@ -8,8 +13,6 @@ ESPFLASHSIZE ?= $(CONFIG_ESPTOOLPY_FLASHSIZE)
 
 CONFIG_ESPTOOLPY_COMPRESSED ?=
 
-PYTHON ?= $(call dequote,$(CONFIG_PYTHON))
-
 # two commands that can be used from other components
 # to invoke esptool.py (with or without serial port args)
 #
diff --git a/tools/findcp2102.py b/tools/findcp2102.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..41a3485d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/findcp2102.py
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+#
+# This program is a workaround for the inconsistent device naming
+# pattern implemented in the device driver for Silicon Labs CP2102 USB
+# to UART Bridge Controller.  When there are multiple devices
+# installed on one computer, the second and subsequent devices are
+# given a numeric suffix that increments every time one of the devices
+# is plugged in.  Thus, unplugging and reinserting a cable causes the
+# device name to change.
+#
+# The workaround is to use the device USB location identifier as a
+# consistent handle for the device, assuming that the cable is plugged
+# into the same jack each time.
+#
+# This program has two uses:
+#
+# 1) When invoked with no arguments it searches for all CP2102 devices
+# in the computer's USB hierarchy and prints a list of the bus
+# location identifier and device name for each.  The device names will
+# be numbered in the order they were plugged in, so this list allows
+# associating a location identifier with each physical device.
+#
+# 2) When invoked with one argument that is the bus location of a
+# CP2102 device it prints the associated device name.  This allows the
+# location identifier to be used as a constant identifier in a system
+# configuration file and then this program can be called in a script or
+# makefile to translate to the dynamic device name.  If the argument
+# is not found as a location identifier, the argument will be output
+# unchanged; this allows the script or makefile to work with either a
+# location identifier or a device name as the configured handle.
+#
+# This program is derived from code provided without copyright by user
+# spachner21 in the Silicon Labs Interface Forum.  It is provided here
+# as public domain.
+
+import sys
+import serial.tools.list_ports
+
+ports = serial.tools.list_ports.grep("USB VID:PID=10c4:ea60")
+
+#Make new list from generated 'generator' objects returned by grep above
+pl = []
+for p in ports:
+    pl.append(p)
+
+#Sort list by object attribute 'location'
+pl.sort(key=lambda x: x.location, reverse=False)
+
+if len(sys.argv) > 1:
+    for p in pl:
+        if str(p.location) == sys.argv[1]:
+            print p.device
+            break
+    else:
+        print sys.argv[1]
+else:
+    for p in pl:
+        print p.location + " " + p.device