diff --git a/mainwindow.cpp b/mainwindow.cpp
--- a/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent) 
     ui->setupUi(this);
     ui->tabWidget->insertTab(0, &portControl, "Port");
     ui->tabWidget->setCurrentIndex(0);
+    addToolBar(portControl.toolBar());
 
     setupAboutDialog();
 
diff --git a/portcontrol.cpp b/portcontrol.cpp
--- a/portcontrol.cpp
+++ b/portcontrol.cpp
@@ -26,12 +26,21 @@
 
 PortControl::PortControl(QSerialPort* port, QWidget* parent) :
     QWidget(parent),
-    ui(new Ui::PortControl)
+    ui(new Ui::PortControl),
+    portToolBar("Port"),
+    openAction("Open", this)
 {
     ui->setupUi(this);
 
     serialPort = port;
 
+    // setup the toolbar
+    openAction.setCheckable(true);
+    QObject::connect(&openAction, &QAction::triggered,
+                     this, &PortControl::openActionTriggered);
+    portToolBar.addAction(&openAction);
+
+    // setup buttons
     QObject::connect(ui->pbReloadPorts, &QPushButton::clicked,
                      this, &PortControl::loadPortList);
 
@@ -240,6 +249,7 @@ void PortControl::togglePort()
         }
     }
     ui->pbOpenPort->setChecked(serialPort->isOpen());
+    openAction.setChecked(serialPort->isOpen());
 }
 
 void PortControl::selectPort(QString portName)
@@ -282,3 +292,13 @@ void PortControl::onPortNameChanged(QStr
 {
     keepPortName(portName);
 }
+
+QToolBar* PortControl::toolBar()
+{
+    return &portToolBar;
+}
+
+void PortControl::openActionTriggered(bool checked)
+{
+    togglePort();
+}
diff --git a/portcontrol.h b/portcontrol.h
--- a/portcontrol.h
+++ b/portcontrol.h
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 #include <QButtonGroup>
 #include <QSerialPort>
 #include <QStringList>
+#include <QToolBar>
+#include <QAction>
 
 namespace Ui {
 class PortControl;
@@ -39,6 +41,8 @@ public:
 
     QSerialPort* serialPort;
 
+    QToolBar* toolBar();
+
 private:
     Ui::PortControl *ui;
 
@@ -47,6 +51,9 @@ private:
     QButtonGroup stopBitsButtons;
     QButtonGroup flowControlButtons;
 
+    QToolBar portToolBar;
+    QAction openAction;
+
     QStringList discoveredPorts; // list of port names returned by availablePorts
     QStringList userEnteredPorts; // list of port names entered by user
     void keepPortName(QString portName); // if it's not already in userEn. or discv. list
@@ -66,6 +73,7 @@ public slots:
 
 private slots:
     void onPortNameChanged(QString portName);
+    void openActionTriggered(bool checked);
 
 signals:
     void skipByteRequested();