diff --git a/board/README.md b/board/README.md
index 4434d28af..ad9091411 100644
--- a/board/README.md
+++ b/board/README.md
@@ -4,18 +4,15 @@ Programming
 **Panda**
 
 ```
-./recover.sh           # flash bootstub
-```
-
-```
-./flash.sh           # flash application
+./recover.py      # flash bootstub
+./flash.py        # flash application
 ```
 
 Troubleshooting
 ----
 
-If your panda will not flash and green LED is on, use `recover.sh`.
-If panda is blinking fast with green LED, use `flash.sh`.
+If your panda will not flash and green LED is on, use `recover.py`.
+If panda is blinking fast with green LED, use `flash.py`.
 Otherwise if LED is off and panda can't be seen with `lsusb` command, use [panda paw](https://comma.ai/shop/products/panda-paw) to go into DFU mode.
 
 
diff --git a/board/flash.py b/board/flash.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..d1a78e2c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/board/flash.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import os
+import subprocess
+
+from panda import Panda
+
+board_path = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+  subprocess.check_call(f"scons -C {board_path}/.. -j$(nproc) {board_path}", shell=True)
+
+  serials = Panda.list()
+  print(f"found {len(serials)} panda(s) - {serials}")
+  for s in serials:
+    print("flashing", s)
+    with Panda(serial=s) as p:
+      p.flash()
diff --git a/board/flash.sh b/board/flash.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index cdb8f1be6..000000000
--- a/board/flash.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env sh
-set -e
-
-scons -u -j$(nproc)
-printf %b 'from python import Panda\nfor serial in Panda.list(): Panda(serial).flash()' | PYTHONPATH=.. python3
diff --git a/board/recover.py b/board/recover.py
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..5284a4e29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/board/recover.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+import os
+import time
+import subprocess
+
+from panda import Panda, PandaDFU
+
+board_path = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+  subprocess.check_call(f"scons -C {board_path}/.. -j$(nproc) {board_path}", shell=True)
+
+  for s in Panda.list():
+    print("putting", s, "in DFU mode")
+    with Panda(serial=s) as p:
+      p.reset(enter_bootstub=True)
+      p.reset(enter_bootloader=True)
+
+  # wait for reset pandas to come back up
+  time.sleep(1)
+
+  dfu_serials = PandaDFU.list()
+  print(f"found {len(dfu_serials)} panda(s) in DFU - {dfu_serials}")
+  for s in dfu_serials:
+    print("flashing", s)
+    PandaDFU(s).recover()
diff --git a/board/recover.sh b/board/recover.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index f003cba67..000000000
--- a/board/recover.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env sh
-set -e
-
-scons -u -j$(nproc)
-# Recovers panda from DFU mode only, use flash.sh after power cycling panda
-printf %b 'from python import Panda\nfor serial in Panda.list(): Panda(serial).reset(enter_bootstub=True); Panda(serial).reset(enter_bootloader=True)' | PYTHONPATH=.. python3
-sleep 1
-printf %b 'from python import PandaDFU\nfor serial in PandaDFU.list(): PandaDFU(serial).recover()' | PYTHONPATH=.. python3