diff --git a/nornir_netmiko/connections/netmiko.py b/nornir_netmiko/connections/netmiko.py
index 59dd641..1d957bf 100644
--- a/nornir_netmiko/connections/netmiko.py
+++ b/nornir_netmiko/connections/netmiko.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 
 from netmiko import ConnectHandler
+from netmiko.ssh_autodetect import SSHDetect
 
 from nornir.core.configuration import Config
 
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@
     "eos": "arista_eos",
     "junos": "juniper_junos",
     "iosxr": "cisco_xr",
+    "netmiko_auto": "autodetect",
 }
 
 
@@ -52,7 +54,16 @@ def open(
         if platform is not None:
             # Look platform up in corresponding map, if no entry return the host.nos unmodified
             platform = napalm_to_netmiko_map.get(platform, platform)
-            parameters["device_type"] = platform
+            if platform == "autodetect":  # If we are using autodect
+                parameters["device_type"] = platform
+                guesser = SSHDetect(**parameters)
+                best_match = guesser.autodetect()
+                if best_match:  # If we find a device_type
+                    parameters["device_type"] = best_match
+                else:
+                    raise ValueError("Netmiko cannot detect the device_type")
+            else:
+                parameters["device_type"] = platform
 
         extras = extras or {}
         parameters.update(extras)