diff --git a/src/controllers/bulk/bulkcontroller.cpp b/src/controllers/bulk/bulkcontroller.cpp
index 24c9e1ee7b0..aacced6ecbb 100644
--- a/src/controllers/bulk/bulkcontroller.cpp
+++ b/src/controllers/bulk/bulkcontroller.cpp
@@ -132,12 +132,10 @@ bool BulkController::matchProductInfo(const ProductInfo& product) {
         return false;
     }
 
-#if defined(__WINDOWS__) || defined(__APPLE__)
     value = product.interface_number.toInt(&ok, 16);
-    if (!ok || m_interfaceNumber != static_cast<unsigned int>(value)) {
+    if (!ok || m_interfaceNumber != value) {
         return false;
     }
-#endif
 
     // Match found
     return true;
@@ -161,9 +159,7 @@ int BulkController::open() {
     }
     m_inEndpointAddr = pDevice->endpoints.in_epaddr;
     m_outEndpointAddr = pDevice->endpoints.out_epaddr;
-#if defined(__WINDOWS__) || defined(__APPLE__)
     m_interfaceNumber = pDevice->endpoints.interface_number;
-#endif
 
     // XXX: we should enumerate devices and match vendor, product, and serial
     if (m_phandle == nullptr) {
@@ -175,31 +171,21 @@ int BulkController::open() {
         qCWarning(m_logBase) << "Unable to open USB Bulk device" << getName();
         return -1;
     }
-
-#if defined(__WINDOWS__) || defined(__APPLE__)
-    if (m_interfaceNumber && libusb_kernel_driver_active(m_phandle, m_interfaceNumber) == 1) {
-        qCDebug(m_logBase) << "Found a driver active for" << getName();
-        if (libusb_detach_kernel_driver(m_phandle, 0) == 0)
-            qCDebug(m_logBase) << "Kernel driver detached for" << getName();
-        else {
-            qCWarning(m_logBase) << "Couldn't detach kernel driver for" << getName();
-            libusb_close(m_phandle);
-            return -1;
-        }
+    if (libusb_set_auto_detach_kernel_driver(m_phandle, true) == LIBUSB_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED) {
+        qCDebug(m_logBase) << "unable to automatically detach kernel driver for" << getName();
     }
 
-    if (m_interfaceNumber) {
-        int ret = libusb_claim_interface(m_phandle, m_interfaceNumber);
-        if (ret < 0) {
+    if (m_interfaceNumber.has_value()) {
+        int error = libusb_claim_interface(m_phandle, *m_interfaceNumber);
+        if (error < 0) {
             qCWarning(m_logBase) << "Cannot claim interface for" << getName()
-                                 << ":" << libusb_error_name(ret);
+                                 << ":" << libusb_error_name(error);
             libusb_close(m_phandle);
             return -1;
         } else {
             qCDebug(m_logBase) << "Claimed interface for" << getName();
         }
     }
-#endif
 
     setOpen(true);
     startEngine();
@@ -254,15 +240,13 @@ int BulkController::close() {
     stopEngine();
 
     // Close device
-#if defined(__WINDOWS__) || defined(__APPLE__)
-    if (m_interfaceNumber) {
-        int ret = libusb_release_interface(m_phandle, m_interfaceNumber);
-        if (ret < 0) {
+    if (m_interfaceNumber.has_value()) {
+        int error = libusb_release_interface(m_phandle, *m_interfaceNumber);
+        if (error < 0) {
             qCWarning(m_logBase) << "Cannot release interface for" << getName()
-                                 << ":" << libusb_error_name(ret);
+                                 << ":" << libusb_error_name(error);
         }
     }
-#endif
     qCInfo(m_logBase) << "  Closing device";
     libusb_close(m_phandle);
     m_phandle = nullptr;
diff --git a/src/controllers/bulk/bulkcontroller.h b/src/controllers/bulk/bulkcontroller.h
index f7376c8ccf9..f2f1b0e9416 100644
--- a/src/controllers/bulk/bulkcontroller.h
+++ b/src/controllers/bulk/bulkcontroller.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include <QAtomicInt>
 #include <QThread>
+#include <optional>
 
 #include "controllers/controller.h"
 #include "controllers/hid/legacyhidcontrollermapping.h"
@@ -72,13 +73,12 @@ class BulkController : public Controller {
 
     // Local copies of things we need from desc
 
-    unsigned short m_vendorId;
-    unsigned short m_productId;
-    unsigned char m_inEndpointAddr;
-    unsigned char m_outEndpointAddr;
-#if defined(__WINDOWS__) || defined(__APPLE__)
-    unsigned int m_interfaceNumber;
-#endif
+    std::uint16_t m_vendorId;
+    std::uint16_t m_productId;
+    std::uint8_t m_inEndpointAddr;
+    std::uint8_t m_outEndpointAddr;
+    std::optional<std::uint8_t> m_interfaceNumber;
+
     QString m_manufacturer;
     QString m_product;
 
diff --git a/src/controllers/bulk/bulksupported.h b/src/controllers/bulk/bulksupported.h
index 49d3f05a636..a7bf6c916d6 100644
--- a/src/controllers/bulk/bulksupported.h
+++ b/src/controllers/bulk/bulksupported.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <cstdint>
+#include <optional>
 
 struct bulk_device_id {
     std::uint16_t vendor_id;
@@ -12,7 +13,9 @@ struct bulk_device_id {
 struct bulk_device_endpoints {
     std::uint8_t in_epaddr;
     std::uint8_t out_epaddr;
-    std::uint8_t interface_number;
+    // we may not know the interface, in which case we should not try to claim it.
+    // these devices are likely unusable on windows without claiming the correct interface.
+    std::optional<std::uint8_t> interface_number;
 };
 
 struct bulk_support_lookup {
@@ -21,8 +24,8 @@ struct bulk_support_lookup {
 };
 
 constexpr static bulk_support_lookup bulk_supported[] = {
-        {{0x06f8, 0xb105}, {0x82, 0x03, 0}}, // Hercules MP3e2
-        {{0x06f8, 0xb107}, {0x83, 0x03, 0}}, // Hercules Mk4
-        {{0x06f8, 0xb100}, {0x86, 0x06, 0}}, // Hercules Mk2
-        {{0x06f8, 0xb120}, {0x82, 0x03, 0}}, // Hercules MP3 LE / Glow
+        {{0x06f8, 0xb105}, {0x82, 0x03, std::nullopt}}, // Hercules MP3e2
+        {{0x06f8, 0xb107}, {0x83, 0x03, std::nullopt}}, // Hercules Mk4
+        {{0x06f8, 0xb100}, {0x86, 0x06, std::nullopt}}, // Hercules Mk2
+        {{0x06f8, 0xb120}, {0x82, 0x03, std::nullopt}}, // Hercules MP3 LE / Glow
 };