diff --git a/electrum/plugins/ledger/ledger.py b/electrum/plugins/ledger/ledger.py
index c6f9942f4..357a2017f 100644
--- a/electrum/plugins/ledger/ledger.py
+++ b/electrum/plugins/ledger/ledger.py
@@ -313,7 +313,17 @@ class Ledger_Client(HardwareClientBase, ABC):
         hid_device.path = device.path
         hid_device.open()
         transport = ledger_bitcoin.TransportClient('hid', hid=hid_device)
-        cl = ledger_bitcoin.createClient(transport, chain=get_chain())
+        try:
+            cl = ledger_bitcoin.createClient(transport, chain=get_chain())
+        except (ledger_bitcoin.exception.errors.InsNotSupportedError,
+                ledger_bitcoin.exception.errors.ClaNotSupportedError) as e:
+            # This can happen on very old versions.
+            # E.g. with a "nano s", with bitcoin app 1.1.10, SE 1.3.1, MCU 1.0,
+            #      - on machine one, ghost43 got InsNotSupportedError
+            #      - on machine two, thomasv got ClaNotSupportedError
+            #      unclear why the different exceptions, ledger_bitcoin version 0.2.1 in both cases
+            _logger.info(f"ledger_bitcoin.createClient() got exc: {e}. falling back to old plugin.")
+            cl = None
         if isinstance(cl, ledger_bitcoin.client.NewClient):
             return Ledger_Client_New(hid_device, *args, **kwargs)
         else:
@@ -1426,7 +1436,7 @@ class LedgerPlugin(HW_PluginBase):
         try:
             return Ledger_Client.construct_new(device=device, product_key=device.product_key, plugin=self)
         except Exception as e:
-            self.logger.info(f"cannot connect at {device.path} {e}")
+            self.logger.info(f"cannot connect at {device.path} {e}", exc_info=e)
         return None
 
     def setup_device(self, device_info, wizard, purpose):