diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.serial/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/serial/internal/handler/SerialBridgeHandler.java b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.serial/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/serial/internal/handler/SerialBridgeHandler.java
index a2c227b9bc..5e2c96429e 100644
--- a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.serial/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/serial/internal/handler/SerialBridgeHandler.java
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.serial/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/serial/internal/handler/SerialBridgeHandler.java
@@ -138,9 +138,13 @@ public class SerialBridgeHandler extends BaseBridgeHandler implements SerialPort
             final SerialPort serialPort = portId.open(getThing().getUID().toString(), 2000);
             this.serialPort = serialPort;
 
-            serialPort.setSerialPortParams(config.baudRate, config.dataBits,
-                    StopBits.fromConfig(config.stopBits).getSerialPortValue(),
-                    Parity.fromConfig(config.parity).getSerialPortValue());
+            try {
+                serialPort.setSerialPortParams(config.baudRate, config.dataBits,
+                        StopBits.fromConfig(config.stopBits).getSerialPortValue(),
+                        Parity.fromConfig(config.parity).getSerialPortValue());
+            } catch (UnsupportedCommOperationException e1) {
+                logger.warn("Couldn't configure serial port " + serialPort, e1);
+            }
 
             serialPort.addEventListener(this);
 
@@ -157,9 +161,6 @@ public class SerialBridgeHandler extends BaseBridgeHandler implements SerialPort
         } catch (final TooManyListenersException e) {
             updateStatus(ThingStatus.OFFLINE, ThingStatusDetail.OFFLINE.COMMUNICATION_ERROR,
                     "Cannot attach listener to port");
-        } catch (final UnsupportedCommOperationException e) {
-            updateStatus(ThingStatus.OFFLINE, ThingStatusDetail.OFFLINE.COMMUNICATION_ERROR,
-                    "Unsupported port parameters: " + e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
@@ -253,7 +254,7 @@ public class SerialBridgeHandler extends BaseBridgeHandler implements SerialPort
 
     /**
      * Read from the serial port and process the data
-     * 
+     *
      * @param sb the string builder to receive the data
      * @param firstAttempt indicates if this is the first read attempt without waiting
      */