diff --git a/src/hardware/agilent-dmm/api.c b/src/hardware/agilent-dmm/api.c
index f7d30547..8500c435 100644
--- a/src/hardware/agilent-dmm/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/agilent-dmm/api.c
@@ -131,7 +131,6 @@ static GSList *scan(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options)
 	if (serial_open(serial, SERIAL_RDWR) != SR_OK)
 		return NULL;
 
-	serial_flush(serial);
 	if (serial_write_blocking(serial, "*IDN?\r\n", 7, SERIAL_WRITE_TIMEOUT_MS) < 7) {
 		sr_err("Unable to send identification string.");
 		return NULL;
diff --git a/src/hardware/appa-55ii/api.c b/src/hardware/appa-55ii/api.c
index 81eafdce..50bc3733 100644
--- a/src/hardware/appa-55ii/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/appa-55ii/api.c
@@ -79,8 +79,6 @@ static GSList *scan(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options)
 
 	sr_info("Probing serial port %s.", conn);
 
-	serial_flush(serial);
-
 	/* Let's get a bit of data and see if we can find a packet. */
 	if (serial_stream_detect(serial, buf, &len, 25,
 			appa_55ii_packet_valid, 500) != SR_OK)
diff --git a/src/hardware/arachnid-labs-re-load-pro/api.c b/src/hardware/arachnid-labs-re-load-pro/api.c
index d6f95723..fb6f8272 100644
--- a/src/hardware/arachnid-labs-re-load-pro/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/arachnid-labs-re-load-pro/api.c
@@ -99,8 +99,6 @@ static GSList *scan(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options)
 	if (serial_open(serial, SERIAL_RDWR) != SR_OK)
 		return NULL;
 
-	serial_flush(serial);
-
 	/*
 	 * First stop potentially running monitoring and wait for 50ms before
 	 * next command can be sent.
diff --git a/src/hardware/atten-pps3xxx/api.c b/src/hardware/atten-pps3xxx/api.c
index b82b9fb3..dc6e5201 100644
--- a/src/hardware/atten-pps3xxx/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/atten-pps3xxx/api.c
@@ -113,8 +113,6 @@ static GSList *scan(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options, int modelid)
 	if (serial_open(serial, SERIAL_RDWR) != SR_OK)
 		return NULL;
 
-	serial_flush(serial);
-
 	/* This is how the vendor software scans for hardware. */
 	memset(packet, 0, PACKET_SIZE);
 	packet[0] = 0xaa;
diff --git a/src/hardware/center-3xx/api.c b/src/hardware/center-3xx/api.c
index 4591ae96..76d234ff 100644
--- a/src/hardware/center-3xx/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/center-3xx/api.c
@@ -67,8 +67,6 @@ static GSList *center_scan(const char *conn, const char *serialcomm, int idx)
 	if (serial_open(serial, SERIAL_RDWR) != SR_OK)
 		return NULL;
 
-	serial_flush(serial);
-
 	sr_info("Found device on port %s.", conn);
 
 	sdi = g_malloc0(sizeof(struct sr_dev_inst));
diff --git a/src/hardware/conrad-digi-35-cpu/api.c b/src/hardware/conrad-digi-35-cpu/api.c
index 1524df0a..84e1779c 100644
--- a/src/hardware/conrad-digi-35-cpu/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/conrad-digi-35-cpu/api.c
@@ -75,7 +75,6 @@ static GSList *scan(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options)
 	if (serial_open(serial, SERIAL_RDWR) != SR_OK)
 		return NULL;
 
-	serial_flush(serial);
 	serial_close(serial);
 
 	sr_spew("Conrad DIGI 35 CPU assumed at %s.", conn);
diff --git a/src/hardware/gmc-mh-1x-2x/api.c b/src/hardware/gmc-mh-1x-2x/api.c
index f2cbd7b2..5f029a9e 100644
--- a/src/hardware/gmc-mh-1x-2x/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/gmc-mh-1x-2x/api.c
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ static enum model scan_model_sm(struct sr_serial_dev_inst *serial)
 	 * Try to find message consisting of device code and several
 	 * (at least 4) data bytes.
 	 */
+	serial_flush(serial);
 	for (bytecnt = 0; bytecnt < 100; bytecnt++) {
 		byte = read_byte(serial, timeout_us);
 		if ((byte == -1) || (timeout_us < g_get_monotonic_time()))
@@ -175,8 +176,6 @@ static GSList *scan_1x_2x_rs232(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options)
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-	serial_flush(serial);
-
 	model = scan_model_sm(serial);
 
 	/*
@@ -187,10 +186,8 @@ static GSList *scan_1x_2x_rs232(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options)
 		serialcomm = SERIALCOMM_1X_RS232;
 		g_free(serial->serialcomm);
 		serial->serialcomm = g_strdup(serialcomm);
-		if (serial_set_paramstr(serial, serialcomm) == SR_OK) {
-			serial_flush(serial);
+		if (serial_set_paramstr(serial, serialcomm) == SR_OK)
 			model = scan_model_sm(serial);
-		}
 	}
 
 	if (model != METRAHIT_NONE) {
diff --git a/src/hardware/gwinstek-gpd/api.c b/src/hardware/gwinstek-gpd/api.c
index 3234240f..74064606 100644
--- a/src/hardware/gwinstek-gpd/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/gwinstek-gpd/api.c
@@ -107,7 +107,6 @@ static GSList *scan(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options)
 	if (serial_open(serial, SERIAL_RDWR) != SR_OK)
 		return NULL;
 
-	serial_flush(serial);
 	gpd_send_cmd(serial, "*IDN?\n");
 	if (gpd_receive_reply(serial, reply, sizeof(reply)) != SR_OK) {
 		sr_err("Device did not reply.");
diff --git a/src/hardware/kern-scale/api.c b/src/hardware/kern-scale/api.c
index 70e85a07..fae1dfe1 100644
--- a/src/hardware/kern-scale/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/kern-scale/api.c
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ static GSList *scan(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options)
 	sr_info("Probing serial port %s.", conn);
 
 	devices = NULL;
-	serial_flush(serial);
 
 	sr_spew("Set O1 mode (continuous values, stable and unstable ones).");
 	if (serial_write_blocking(serial, "O1\r\n", 4, 0) < 0)
diff --git a/src/hardware/korad-kaxxxxp/api.c b/src/hardware/korad-kaxxxxp/api.c
index 1f82f227..d5146261 100644
--- a/src/hardware/korad-kaxxxxp/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/korad-kaxxxxp/api.c
@@ -128,8 +128,6 @@ static GSList *scan(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options)
 	if (serial_open(serial, SERIAL_RDWR) != SR_OK)
 		return NULL;
 
-	serial_flush(serial);
-
 	/* Get the device model. */
 	len = 0;
 	for (i = 0; models[i].id; i++) {
diff --git a/src/hardware/manson-hcs-3xxx/api.c b/src/hardware/manson-hcs-3xxx/api.c
index 84c6be8b..9d3c9238 100644
--- a/src/hardware/manson-hcs-3xxx/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/manson-hcs-3xxx/api.c
@@ -118,8 +118,6 @@ static GSList *scan(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options)
 	if (serial_open(serial, SERIAL_RDWR) != SR_OK)
 		return NULL;
 
-	serial_flush(serial);
-
 	sr_info("Probing serial port %s.", conn);
 
 	/* Get the device model. */
diff --git a/src/hardware/mastech-ms6514/api.c b/src/hardware/mastech-ms6514/api.c
index 7173cb3c..6e22dd6c 100644
--- a/src/hardware/mastech-ms6514/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/mastech-ms6514/api.c
@@ -81,8 +81,6 @@ static GSList *scan(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options)
 
 	sr_info("Probing serial port %s.", conn);
 
-	serial_flush(serial);
-
 	/* Let's get a bit of data and see if we can find a packet. */
 	if (serial_stream_detect(serial, buf, &len, (2 * MASTECH_MS6514_FRAME_SIZE),
 			mastech_ms6514_packet_valid, 500) != SR_OK)
diff --git a/src/hardware/mic-985xx/api.c b/src/hardware/mic-985xx/api.c
index 9e33f0ad..14f0c4a8 100644
--- a/src/hardware/mic-985xx/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/mic-985xx/api.c
@@ -67,8 +67,6 @@ static GSList *mic_scan(const char *conn, const char *serialcomm, int idx)
 	if (serial_open(serial, SERIAL_RDWR) != SR_OK)
 		return NULL;
 
-	serial_flush(serial);
-
 	/* TODO: Query device type. */
 	// ret = mic_cmd_get_device_info(serial);
 
diff --git a/src/hardware/motech-lps-30x/api.c b/src/hardware/motech-lps-30x/api.c
index 46407cc5..e4a1fb6b 100644
--- a/src/hardware/motech-lps-30x/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/motech-lps-30x/api.c
@@ -378,7 +378,6 @@ static GSList *do_scan(lps_modelid modelid, struct sr_dev_driver *drv, GSList *o
 		goto exit_err;
 
 	/* Query and verify model string. */
-	serial_flush(serial);
 	if (lps_cmd_reply(buf, serial, "MODEL") != SR_OK)
 		return NULL;
 
diff --git a/src/hardware/norma-dmm/api.c b/src/hardware/norma-dmm/api.c
index d155bc36..84ca43ca 100644
--- a/src/hardware/norma-dmm/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/norma-dmm/api.c
@@ -99,8 +99,6 @@ static GSList *scan(struct sr_dev_driver *drv, GSList *options)
 	if (serial_open(serial, SERIAL_RDWR) != SR_OK)
 		return NULL;
 
-	serial_flush(serial);
-
 	buf = g_malloc(BUF_MAX);
 
 	snprintf(req, sizeof(req), "%s\r\n",
diff --git a/src/hardware/serial-dmm/api.c b/src/hardware/serial-dmm/api.c
index bf1e695e..edabea78 100644
--- a/src/hardware/serial-dmm/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/serial-dmm/api.c
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ static GSList *scan(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options)
 	sr_info("Probing serial port %s.", conn);
 
 	devices = NULL;
-	serial_flush(serial);
 
 	/* Request a packet if the DMM requires this. */
 	if (dmm->packet_request) {
diff --git a/src/hardware/serial-lcr/api.c b/src/hardware/serial-lcr/api.c
index d67171d4..25b4e47f 100644
--- a/src/hardware/serial-lcr/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/serial-lcr/api.c
@@ -105,7 +105,6 @@ static int scan_lcr_port(const struct lcr_info *lcr,
 	 * send data periodically. So we check if the packets match the
 	 * probed device's expected format.
 	 */
-	serial_flush(serial);
 	if (lcr->packet_request) {
 		ret = lcr->packet_request(serial);
 		if (ret < 0) {
diff --git a/src/hardware/teleinfo/api.c b/src/hardware/teleinfo/api.c
index 3de4456b..92bc27a9 100644
--- a/src/hardware/teleinfo/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/teleinfo/api.c
@@ -75,8 +75,6 @@ static GSList *scan(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options)
 
 	sr_info("Probing serial port %s.", conn);
 
-	serial_flush(serial);
-
 	/* Let's get a bit of data and see if we can find a packet. */
 	if (serial_stream_detect(serial, buf, &len, len,
 	                         teleinfo_packet_valid, 3000) != SR_OK)
diff --git a/src/hardware/uni-t-ut32x/api.c b/src/hardware/uni-t-ut32x/api.c
index ce81b3cc..0329727f 100644
--- a/src/hardware/uni-t-ut32x/api.c
+++ b/src/hardware/uni-t-ut32x/api.c
@@ -90,7 +90,6 @@ static GSList *scan(struct sr_dev_driver *di, GSList *options)
 	devices = NULL;
 	serial = sr_serial_dev_inst_new(conn, serialcomm);
 	rc = serial_open(serial, SERIAL_RDWR);
-	serial_flush(serial);
 	/* Cannot query/identify the device. Successful open shall suffice. */
 	serial_close(serial);
 	if (rc != SR_OK) {
diff --git a/src/modbus/modbus_serial_rtu.c b/src/modbus/modbus_serial_rtu.c
index 8d6978b1..8123ee9a 100644
--- a/src/modbus/modbus_serial_rtu.c
+++ b/src/modbus/modbus_serial_rtu.c
@@ -57,9 +57,6 @@ static int modbus_serial_rtu_open(void *priv)
 	if (serial_open(serial, SERIAL_RDWR) != SR_OK)
 		return SR_ERR;
 
-	if (serial_flush(serial) != SR_OK)
-		return SR_ERR;
-
 	return SR_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/scpi/scpi_serial.c b/src/scpi/scpi_serial.c
index 90c01424..6158f089 100644
--- a/src/scpi/scpi_serial.c
+++ b/src/scpi/scpi_serial.c
@@ -114,9 +114,6 @@ static int scpi_serial_open(struct sr_scpi_dev_inst *scpi)
 	if (serial_open(serial, SERIAL_RDWR) != SR_OK)
 		return SR_ERR;
 
-	if (serial_flush(serial) != SR_OK)
-		return SR_ERR;
-
 	sscpi->got_newline = FALSE;
 
 	return SR_OK;
diff --git a/src/serial.c b/src/serial.c
index 106090b7..fe39effc 100644
--- a/src/serial.c
+++ b/src/serial.c
@@ -122,10 +122,13 @@ SR_PRIV int serial_open(struct sr_serial_dev_inst *serial, int flags)
 	if (ret != SR_OK)
 		return ret;
 
-	if (serial->serialcomm)
-		return serial_set_paramstr(serial, serial->serialcomm);
-	else
-		return SR_OK;
+	if (serial->serialcomm) {
+		ret = serial_set_paramstr(serial, serial->serialcomm);
+		if (ret != SR_OK)
+			return ret;
+	}
+
+	return serial_flush(serial);
 }
 
 /**