diff --git a/net_io.c b/net_io.c
index 0c643451..451d52cc 100644
--- a/net_io.c
+++ b/net_io.c
@@ -1045,11 +1045,6 @@ void modesInitNet(void) {
     }
     serviceListen(Modes.beast_in_service, Modes.net_bind_address, Modes.net_input_beast_ports, Modes.net_epfd);
 
-    /* Beast input from local Modes-S Beast via USB */
-    if (Modes.sdr_type == SDR_MODESBEAST || Modes.sdr_type == SDR_GNS) {
-        Modes.serial_client = createSocketClient(Modes.beast_in_service, Modes.beast_fd);
-    }
-
     /* Planefinder input via network */
     planefinder_in = serviceInit(&Modes.services_in, "Planefinder TCP input", NULL, no_heartbeat, no_heartbeat, READ_MODE_PLANEFINDER, NULL, decodePfMessage);
     serviceListen(planefinder_in, Modes.net_bind_address, Modes.net_input_planefinder_ports, Modes.net_epfd);
@@ -5466,7 +5461,11 @@ void modesNetPeriodicWork(void) {
         timespec_add_elapsed(&before, &after, &Modes.stats_current.background_cpu);
     }
 
-    if (Modes.serial_client) {
+    /* Beast input from local Modes-S Beast via USB */
+    if (Modes.sdrInitialized && (Modes.sdr_type == SDR_MODESBEAST || Modes.sdr_type == SDR_GNS)) {
+        if (!Modes.serial_client) {
+            Modes.serial_client = createSocketClient(Modes.beast_in_service, Modes.beast_fd);
+        }
         if (Modes.serial_client->service) {
             modesReadFromClient(Modes.serial_client, mb);
         } else {