diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.core.config.discovery.usbserial/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/config/discovery/usbserial/internal/UsbSerialDiscoveryService.java b/bundles/org.openhab.core.config.discovery.usbserial/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/config/discovery/usbserial/internal/UsbSerialDiscoveryService.java
index 3c358f19f81..676e64a9e2a 100644
--- a/bundles/org.openhab.core.config.discovery.usbserial/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/config/discovery/usbserial/internal/UsbSerialDiscoveryService.java
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.core.config.discovery.usbserial/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/config/discovery/usbserial/internal/UsbSerialDiscoveryService.java
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ protected void removeUsbSerialDiscoveryParticipant(UsbSerialDiscoveryParticipant
     protected void addUsbSerialDiscovery(UsbSerialDiscovery usbSerialDiscovery) {
         usbSerialDiscoveries.add(usbSerialDiscovery);
         usbSerialDiscovery.registerDiscoveryListener(this);
+        if (isBackgroundDiscoveryEnabled()) {
+            usbSerialDiscovery.startBackgroundScanning();
+        }
     }
 
     protected synchronized void removeUsbSerialDiscovery(UsbSerialDiscovery usbSerialDiscovery) {