diff --git a/src/devices/IHID.hpp b/src/devices/IHID.hpp
index cac25112..4a0ff8fd 100644
--- a/src/devices/IHID.hpp
+++ b/src/devices/IHID.hpp
@@ -36,5 +36,5 @@ class IHID {
         CSignal destroy;
     } events;
 
-    std::string deviceName;
+    std::string deviceName, hlName;
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/devices/IKeyboard.hpp b/src/devices/IKeyboard.hpp
index 76d2c31b..dce2127a 100644
--- a/src/devices/IKeyboard.hpp
+++ b/src/devices/IKeyboard.hpp
@@ -94,7 +94,6 @@ class IKeyboard : public IHID {
     std::array<xkb_mod_index_t, 8> modIndexes = {XKB_MOD_INVALID};
     uint32_t                       leds       = 0;
 
-    std::string                    hlName          = "";
     std::string                    xkbFilePath     = "";
     std::string                    xkbKeymapString = "";
     int                            xkbKeymapFD     = -1;
diff --git a/src/devices/IPointer.hpp b/src/devices/IPointer.hpp
index f38ef55a..503a690e 100644
--- a/src/devices/IPointer.hpp
+++ b/src/devices/IPointer.hpp
@@ -104,7 +104,6 @@ class IPointer : public IHID {
         CSignal holdEnd;
     } pointerEvents;
 
-    std::string  hlName;
     bool         connected   = false; // means connected to the cursor
     std::string  boundOutput = "";
 
diff --git a/src/devices/ITouch.hpp b/src/devices/ITouch.hpp
index bf969b2f..766c0510 100644
--- a/src/devices/ITouch.hpp
+++ b/src/devices/ITouch.hpp
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ class ITouch : public IHID {
         CSignal frame;
     } touchEvents;
 
-    std::string hlName      = "";
     std::string boundOutput = "";
 
     WP<ITouch>  self;
diff --git a/src/devices/Tablet.hpp b/src/devices/Tablet.hpp
index 01901721..4894ac8e 100644
--- a/src/devices/Tablet.hpp
+++ b/src/devices/Tablet.hpp
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ class CTablet : public IHID {
     WP<CTablet> self;
 
     bool        relativeInput = false;
-    std::string hlName        = "";
     std::string boundOutput   = "";
     CBox        activeArea;
     CBox        boundBox; // output-local
@@ -154,8 +153,6 @@ class CTabletPad : public IHID {
     WP<CTabletPad>  self;
     WP<CTabletTool> parent;
 
-    std::string     hlName;
-
   private:
     CTabletPad(SP<Aquamarine::ITabletPad> pad);
 
@@ -210,8 +207,6 @@ class CTabletTool : public IHID {
     std::vector<uint32_t>       buttonsDown;
     Vector2D                    absolutePos; // last known absolute position.
 
-    std::string                 hlName;
-
   private:
     CTabletTool(SP<Aquamarine::ITabletTool> tool);
 
diff --git a/src/managers/input/InputManager.cpp b/src/managers/input/InputManager.cpp
index b12a6e03..2787cbf7 100644
--- a/src/managers/input/InputManager.cpp
+++ b/src/managers/input/InputManager.cpp
@@ -1655,31 +1655,12 @@ std::string CInputManager::getNameForNewDevice(std::string internalName) {
     auto proposedNewName = deviceNameToInternalString(internalName);
     int  dupeno          = 0;
 
-    while (std::find_if(m_vKeyboards.begin(), m_vKeyboards.end(),
-                        [&](const auto& other) { return other->hlName == proposedNewName + (dupeno == 0 ? "" : ("-" + std::to_string(dupeno))); }) != m_vKeyboards.end())
+    auto makeNewName = [&]() { return (proposedNewName.empty() ? "unknown-device" : proposedNewName) + (dupeno == 0 ? "" : ("-" + std::to_string(dupeno))); };
+
+    while (std::find_if(m_vHIDs.begin(), m_vHIDs.end(), [&](const auto& other) { return other->hlName == makeNewName(); }) != m_vHIDs.end())
         dupeno++;
 
-    while (std::find_if(m_vPointers.begin(), m_vPointers.end(),
-                        [&](const auto& other) { return other->hlName == proposedNewName + (dupeno == 0 ? "" : ("-" + std::to_string(dupeno))); }) != m_vPointers.end())
-        dupeno++;
-
-    while (std::find_if(m_vTouches.begin(), m_vTouches.end(),
-                        [&](const auto& other) { return other->hlName == proposedNewName + (dupeno == 0 ? "" : ("-" + std::to_string(dupeno))); }) != m_vTouches.end())
-        dupeno++;
-
-    while (std::find_if(m_vTabletPads.begin(), m_vTabletPads.end(),
-                        [&](const auto& other) { return other->hlName == proposedNewName + (dupeno == 0 ? "" : ("-" + std::to_string(dupeno))); }) != m_vTabletPads.end())
-        dupeno++;
-
-    while (std::find_if(m_vTablets.begin(), m_vTablets.end(),
-                        [&](const auto& other) { return other->hlName == proposedNewName + (dupeno == 0 ? "" : ("-" + std::to_string(dupeno))); }) != m_vTablets.end())
-        dupeno++;
-
-    while (std::find_if(m_vTabletTools.begin(), m_vTabletTools.end(),
-                        [&](const auto& other) { return other->hlName == proposedNewName + (dupeno == 0 ? "" : ("-" + std::to_string(dupeno))); }) != m_vTabletTools.end())
-        dupeno++;
-
-    return proposedNewName + (dupeno == 0 ? "" : ("-" + std::to_string(dupeno)));
+    return makeNewName();
 }
 
 void CInputManager::releaseAllMouseButtons() {
diff --git a/src/managers/input/Tablets.cpp b/src/managers/input/Tablets.cpp
index 9f80726e..3884afec 100644
--- a/src/managers/input/Tablets.cpp
+++ b/src/managers/input/Tablets.cpp
@@ -228,6 +228,12 @@ SP<CTabletTool> CInputManager::ensureTabletToolPresent(SP<Aquamarine::ITabletToo
     const auto PTOOL = m_vTabletTools.emplace_back(CTabletTool::create(pTool));
     m_vHIDs.push_back(PTOOL);
 
+    try {
+        PTOOL->hlName = deviceNameToInternalString(pTool->getName());
+    } catch (std::exception& e) {
+        Debug::log(ERR, "Tablet had no name???"); // logic error
+    }
+
     PTOOL->events.destroy.registerStaticListener(
         [this](void* owner, std::any d) {
             auto TOOL = ((CTabletTool*)owner)->self;