diff --git a/ArduSub/system.cpp b/ArduSub/system.cpp
index 483457be10..176bb19130 100644
--- a/ArduSub/system.cpp
+++ b/ArduSub/system.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ void Sub::init_ardupilot()
 
     BoardConfig.init();
 
+    // identify ourselves correctly with the ground station
+    mavlink_system.sysid = g.sysid_this_mav;
+    
     // initialise serial port
     serial_manager.init();
 
@@ -60,9 +63,6 @@ void Sub::init_ardupilot()
         gcs_chan[i].setup_uart(serial_manager, AP_SerialManager::SerialProtocol_MAVLink, i);
     }
 
-    // identify ourselves correctly with the ground station
-    mavlink_system.sysid = g.sysid_this_mav;
-
 #if LOGGING_ENABLED == ENABLED
     log_init();
 #endif