diff --git a/src/NimBLEClient.cpp b/src/NimBLEClient.cpp
index a72b4e37..845a5bb5 100644
--- a/src/NimBLEClient.cpp
+++ b/src/NimBLEClient.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ static NimBLEClientCallbacks defaultCallbacks;
  *
  */
 
-NimBLEClient::NimBLEClient()
+NimBLEClient::NimBLEClient(bool preDiscover)
 {
     m_pClientCallbacks = &defaultCallbacks;
     m_conn_id          = BLE_HS_CONN_HANDLE_NONE;
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ NimBLEClient::NimBLEClient()
     m_pConnParams.supervision_timeout = BLE_GAP_INITIAL_SUPERVISION_TIMEOUT; // timeout = 400*10ms = 4000ms
     m_pConnParams.min_ce_len = BLE_GAP_INITIAL_CONN_MIN_CE_LEN; // Minimum length of connection event in 0.625ms units
     m_pConnParams.max_ce_len = BLE_GAP_INITIAL_CONN_MAX_CE_LEN; // Maximum length of connection event in 0.625ms units
+
+    m_preDiscover = preDiscover;
 } // NimBLEClient
 
 
@@ -375,7 +377,7 @@ NimBLERemoteService* NimBLEClient::getService(const NimBLEUUID &uuid) {
             NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "<< getService: found the service with uuid: %s", uuid.toString().c_str());
             return it;
         }
-    }
+    } 
 
     NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "<< getService: not found");
     return nullptr;
@@ -427,13 +429,15 @@ bool NimBLEClient::retrieveServices() {
     // If sucessful, remember that we now have services.
     m_haveServices = (m_semaphoreSearchCmplEvt.wait("retrieveServices") == 0);
     if(m_haveServices){
-        for (auto &it: m_servicesVector) {
-            if(!m_isConnected || !it->retrieveCharacteristics()) {
-                NIMBLE_LOGE(LOG_TAG, "Disconnected, could not retrieve characteristics -aborting");
-                return false;
+        if(m_preDiscover) {
+            for (auto &it: m_servicesVector) {
+                if(!m_isConnected || !it->retrieveCharacteristics()) {
+                    NIMBLE_LOGE(LOG_TAG, "Disconnected, could not retrieve characteristics -aborting");
+                    return false;
+                }
             }
         }
-
+        
         NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "<< retrieveServices");
         return true;
     }
@@ -669,26 +673,24 @@ uint16_t NimBLEClient::getMTU() {
                 if(it->getEndHandle() < event->notify_rx.attr_handle) {
                     continue;
                 }
-
                 auto cVector = it->getCharacteristics();
                 NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "checking service %s for handle: %d", it->getUUID().toString().c_str(),event->notify_rx.attr_handle);
                 auto characteristic = cVector->cbegin();
                 for(; characteristic != cVector->cend(); ++characteristic) {
                     if((*characteristic)->m_handle == event->notify_rx.attr_handle) break;
                 }
-
                 if(characteristic != cVector->cend()) {
                     NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "Got Notification for characteristic %s", (*characteristic)->toString().c_str());
-
+                    
                     if ((*characteristic)->m_notifyCallback != nullptr) {
                         NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "Invoking callback for notification on characteristic %s", (*characteristic)->toString().c_str());
                         (*characteristic)->m_notifyCallback(*characteristic, event->notify_rx.om->om_data, event->notify_rx.om->om_len, !event->notify_rx.indication);
                     }
-
+                    
                     break;
                 }
             }
-
+            
             return 0;
         } // BLE_GAP_EVENT_NOTIFY_RX
 
diff --git a/src/NimBLEClient.h b/src/NimBLEClient.h
index e2cea9e1..899f9ec1 100644
--- a/src/NimBLEClient.h
+++ b/src/NimBLEClient.h
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class NimBLEClient {
 
 
 private:
-    NimBLEClient();
+    NimBLEClient(bool preDiscover);
     ~NimBLEClient();
     friend class NimBLEDevice;
     friend class NimBLERemoteService;
@@ -77,10 +77,11 @@ class NimBLEClient {
     uint16_t         m_conn_id;
     bool             m_haveServices = false;    // Have we previously obtain the set of services from the remote server.
     bool             m_isConnected = false;     // Are we currently connected.
-    bool             m_waitingToConnect =false;
+    bool             m_waitingToConnect = false;
     bool             m_deleteCallbacks = true;
     int32_t          m_connectTimeout;
     //uint16_t         m_mtu = 23;
+    bool             m_preDiscover;
 
     NimBLEClientCallbacks*  m_pClientCallbacks = nullptr;
 
diff --git a/src/NimBLEDevice.cpp b/src/NimBLEDevice.cpp
index 1540f632..f061ea0b 100644
--- a/src/NimBLEDevice.cpp
+++ b/src/NimBLEDevice.cpp
@@ -129,13 +129,13 @@ void NimBLEDevice::stopAdvertising() {
  * @return A reference to the new client object.
  */
 #if defined(CONFIG_BT_NIMBLE_ROLE_CENTRAL)
-/* STATIC */ NimBLEClient* NimBLEDevice::createClient() {
+/* STATIC */ NimBLEClient* NimBLEDevice::createClient(bool preDiscover) {
     if(m_cList.size() >= NIMBLE_MAX_CONNECTIONS) {
         NIMBLE_LOGW("Number of clients exceeds Max connections. Max=(%d)",
                                             NIMBLE_MAX_CONNECTIONS);
     }
-
-    NimBLEClient* pClient = new NimBLEClient();
+    
+    NimBLEClient* pClient = new NimBLEClient(preDiscover);
     m_cList.push_back(pClient);
 
     return pClient;
diff --git a/src/NimBLEDevice.h b/src/NimBLEDevice.h
index c4a6d041..25ea0295 100644
--- a/src/NimBLEDevice.h
+++ b/src/NimBLEDevice.h
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class NimBLEDevice {
 #endif
 
 #if defined( CONFIG_BT_NIMBLE_ROLE_CENTRAL)
-    static NimBLEClient*    createClient();
+    static NimBLEClient*    createClient(bool preDiscover = true);
     static bool             deleteClient(NimBLEClient* pClient);
     static NimBLEClient*    getClientByID(uint16_t conn_id);
     static NimBLEClient*    getClientByPeerAddress(const NimBLEAddress &peer_addr);
diff --git a/src/NimBLERemoteCharacteristic.cpp b/src/NimBLERemoteCharacteristic.cpp
index 52b98f25..c276739b 100644
--- a/src/NimBLERemoteCharacteristic.cpp
+++ b/src/NimBLERemoteCharacteristic.cpp
@@ -113,7 +113,8 @@ bool NimBLERemoteCharacteristic::canNotify() {
  * @brief Does the characteristic support reading?
  * @return True if the characteristic supports reading.
  */
-bool NimBLERemoteCharacteristic::canRead() {
+//bool NimBLERemoteCharacteristic::canRead() {
+bool NimBLERemoteCharacteristic::canRead() const {
     return (m_charProp & BLE_GATT_CHR_PROP_READ) != 0;
 } // canRead
 
@@ -210,8 +211,8 @@ bool NimBLERemoteCharacteristic::retrieveDescriptors(uint16_t endHdl) {
         return false;
     }
 
-    return true;
     NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "<< retrieveDescriptors(): Found %d descriptors.", m_descriptorVector.size());
+    return true;
 } // getDescriptors
 
 
@@ -247,7 +248,6 @@ uint16_t NimBLERemoteCharacteristic::getDefHandle() {
  */
 NimBLERemoteDescriptor* NimBLERemoteCharacteristic::getDescriptor(const NimBLEUUID &uuid) {
     NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, ">> getDescriptor: uuid: %s", uuid.toString().c_str());
-
     for(auto &it: m_descriptorVector) {
           if(it->getUUID() == uuid) {
               NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "<< getDescriptor: found");
diff --git a/src/NimBLERemoteCharacteristic.h b/src/NimBLERemoteCharacteristic.h
index b4748fe0..ce1a0207 100644
--- a/src/NimBLERemoteCharacteristic.h
+++ b/src/NimBLERemoteCharacteristic.h
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ class NimBLERemoteCharacteristic {
     bool        canBroadcast();
     bool        canIndicate();
     bool        canNotify();
-    bool        canRead();
+//    bool        canRead();
+    bool        canRead() const;
     bool        canWrite();
     bool        canWriteNoResponse();
     NimBLERemoteDescriptor* getDescriptor(const NimBLEUUID &uuid);
diff --git a/src/NimBLERemoteService.cpp b/src/NimBLERemoteService.cpp
index 624de63e..9dc12258 100644
--- a/src/NimBLERemoteService.cpp
+++ b/src/NimBLERemoteService.cpp
@@ -80,12 +80,26 @@ NimBLERemoteCharacteristic* NimBLERemoteService::getCharacteristic(const char* u
  * @return Reference to the characteristic object, or nullptr if not found.
  */
 NimBLERemoteCharacteristic* NimBLERemoteService::getCharacteristic(const NimBLEUUID &uuid) {
+    if(!m_haveCharacteristics) { // No characteristics yet, so retrieve the one for uuid
+        if(retrieveCharacteristic(uuid)) { // Found, so the wanted characteristic is the first in the vector
+            return m_characteristicVector[0];
+        } else {
+            return nullptr;
+        }
+    }
     if (m_haveCharacteristics) {
         for(auto &it: m_characteristicVector) {
             if(it->getUUID() == uuid) {
                 return it;
             }
         }
+        // At this point the characteristic is not found in the vector, so try to retrieve it
+        if(retrieveCharacteristic(uuid)) { // Found, so the wanted characteristic is the last in the vector
+            return m_characteristicVector[m_characteristicVector.size()- 1];
+        } else {
+            return nullptr;
+        }
+
     }
 
     return nullptr;
@@ -175,19 +189,19 @@ bool NimBLERemoteService::retrieveCharacteristics() {
             NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "Found UUID: %s Handle: %d Def Handle: %d", (*it)->getUUID().toString().c_str(), (*it)->getHandle(), (*it)->getDefHandle());
             // The descriptor handle is between this characteristic val_handle and the next ones def_handle
             // so make the end of the scan at the handle before the next characteristic def_handle
-
+            
             // Make sure we don't go past the service end handle
             if(++it != m_characteristicVector.cend()){
                 NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "Next UUID: %s Handle: %d Def Handle: %d", (*it)->getUUID().toString().c_str(), (*it)->getHandle(),(*it)->getDefHandle());
-
+                
                 endHdl = (*it)->getDefHandle()-1;
             }
-            else{
+            else{ 
                 NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "END CHARS");
                 endHdl = m_endHandle;
             }
             --it;
-
+            
             //If there is no handles between this characteristic and the next there is no descriptor so skip to the next
             if((*it)->getHandle() != endHdl){
                 if(!m_pClient->m_isConnected || !(*it)->retrieveDescriptors(endHdl)) {
@@ -207,6 +221,48 @@ bool NimBLERemoteService::retrieveCharacteristics() {
 } // retrieveCharacteristics
 
 
+/**
+ * @brief Retrieve only one characteristic for this service.
+ * This function will not return until we have this characteristic.
+ * @param [in] uuid Remote characteristic uuid.
+ * @return N/A
+ */
+bool NimBLERemoteService::retrieveCharacteristic(const NimBLEUUID &uuid) {
+    NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, ">> retrieveCharacteristic(%s) for service: %s", std::string(uuid).c_str(), std::string(getUUID()).c_str());
+    
+    int rc = 0;
+    //removeCharacteristics(); // Forget any previous characteristics.
+    
+    m_semaphoreGetCharEvt.take("retrieveCharacteristics");
+
+    rc = ble_gattc_disc_chrs_by_uuid(m_pClient->getConnId(),
+                                     m_startHandle,
+                                     m_endHandle,
+                                     &uuid.getNative()->u,
+                                     NimBLERemoteService::characteristicDiscCB,
+                                     this);
+    if (rc != 0) {
+        NIMBLE_LOGE(LOG_TAG, "ble_gattc_disc_chrs_by_uuid: rc=%d %s", rc, NimBLEUtils::returnCodeToString(rc));
+//        m_haveCharacteristics = false;
+        m_semaphoreGetCharEvt.give();
+        return false;
+    }
+    
+    bool success = (m_semaphoreGetCharEvt.wait("retrieveCharacteristics") == 0);
+    m_haveCharacteristics |= success;
+    if(success){
+        NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "Found UUID: %s", std::string(uuid).c_str());
+        
+        NIMBLE_LOGD(LOG_TAG, "<< retrieveCharacteristic(%s)", std::string(uuid).c_str());
+        return true;
+    }
+    
+    NIMBLE_LOGE(LOG_TAG, "Could not retrieve characteristic(%s)", std::string(uuid).c_str());
+    return false;
+    
+} // retrieveCharacteristics
+
+
 /**
  * @brief Retrieve a vector of all the characteristics of this service.
  * @return A vector of all the characteristics of this service.
diff --git a/src/NimBLERemoteService.h b/src/NimBLERemoteService.h
index c13dfb2c..c3386fdb 100644
--- a/src/NimBLERemoteService.h
+++ b/src/NimBLERemoteService.h
@@ -41,9 +41,7 @@ class NimBLERemoteService {
     // Public methods
     NimBLERemoteCharacteristic* getCharacteristic(const char* uuid);      // Get the specified characteristic reference.
     NimBLERemoteCharacteristic* getCharacteristic(const NimBLEUUID &uuid);       // Get the specified characteristic reference.
-//  BLERemoteCharacteristic* getCharacteristic(uint16_t uuid);      // Get the specified characteristic reference.
     std::vector<NimBLERemoteCharacteristic*>* getCharacteristics();
-//  void getCharacteristics(std::map<uint16_t, BLERemoteCharacteristic*>* pCharacteristicMap);
 
     NimBLEClient*            getClient(void);                                           // Get a reference to the client associated with this service.
     uint16_t                 getHandle();                                               // Get the handle of this service.
@@ -62,7 +60,8 @@ class NimBLERemoteService {
 
     // Private methods
     bool                retrieveCharacteristics(void);   // Retrieve the characteristics from the BLE Server.
-    static int          characteristicDiscCB(uint16_t conn_handle,
+    bool                retrieveCharacteristic(const NimBLEUUID &uuid);   // Retrieve only one characteristic from the BLE Server.
+    static int          characteristicDiscCB(uint16_t conn_handle, 
                                 const struct ble_gatt_error *error,
                                 const struct ble_gatt_chr *chr, void *arg);