diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/serial_core.c b/drivers/tty/serial/serial_core.c
index 8dbeb14a1e3a..fe9261ffe3db 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/serial_core.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/serial_core.c
@@ -1738,6 +1738,7 @@ static int uart_port_activate(struct tty_port *port, struct tty_struct *tty)
 {
 	struct uart_state *state = container_of(port, struct uart_state, port);
 	struct uart_port *uport;
+	int ret;
 
 	uport = uart_port_check(state);
 	if (!uport || uport->flags & UPF_DEAD)
@@ -1748,7 +1749,11 @@ static int uart_port_activate(struct tty_port *port, struct tty_struct *tty)
 	/*
 	 * Start up the serial port.
 	 */
-	return uart_startup(tty, state, 0);
+	ret = uart_startup(tty, state, 0);
+	if (ret > 0)
+		tty_port_set_active(port, 1);
+
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static const char *uart_type(struct uart_port *port)