void general_init(void) {
    // Check if stop bits and parity settings in the EEPROM are legal
    uint8_t stop_bits = eeprom_read_byte(MODBUS_EEPROM_STOPBITS);
    if((stop_bits != USART_SBMODE_1BIT_gc) && (stop_bits != USART_SBMODE_2BIT_gc)) {
        //eeprom_write_byte(MODBUS_EEPROM_STOPBITS, USART_SBMODE_1BIT_gc);   // DEFAULT STOPP BITS: 1
        eeprom_write_byte(MODBUS_EEPROM_STOPBITS, USART_SBMODE_2BIT_gc);   // DEFAULT STOPP BITS: 2
    }
    uint8_t parity = eeprom_read_byte(MODBUS_EEPROM_PARITY);
    if((parity != USART_PMODE_DISABLED_gc) && (parity != USART_PMODE_EVEN_gc) && (parity != USART_PMODE_ODD_gc)) {
        eeprom_write_byte(MODBUS_EEPROM_PARITY, USART_PMODE_DISABLED_gc);    // DEFAULT PARITY: NONE
        //eeprom_write_byte(MODBUS_EEPROM_PARITY, USART_PMODE_EVEN_gc);        // DEFAULT PARITY: EVEN
        //eeprom_write_byte(MODBUS_EEPROM_PARITY, USART_PMODE_ODD_gc);         // DEFAULT PARITY: ODD
    }
    (...)
}