diff --git a/ino/environment.py b/ino/environment.py
index 8cb27e8..7851cfb 100644
--- a/ino/environment.py
+++ b/ino/environment.py
@@ -81,7 +81,11 @@ class Environment(dict):
     if platform.system() == 'Darwin':
         arduino_dist_dir_guesses.insert(0, '/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Resources/Java')
 
-    default_board_model = 'uno'
+    def get_default_board_model():
+        if os.path.exists(".model"):
+            return open(".model","r").readline().strip()
+        return 'uno'
+    default_board_model = get_default_board_model()
     ino = sys.argv[0]
 
     def dump(self):