diff --git a/libraries/mbed/common/retarget.cpp b/libraries/mbed/common/retarget.cpp
index 168d319a97..57bf22f29c 100644
--- a/libraries/mbed/common/retarget.cpp
+++ b/libraries/mbed/common/retarget.cpp
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ extern "C" int PREFIX(_read)(FILEHANDLE fh, unsigned char *buffer, unsigned int
     if (fh < 3) {
         // only read a character at a time from stdin
 #if DEVICE_SERIAL
+        if (!stdio_uart_inited) init_serial();
         *buffer = serial_getc(&stdio_uart);
 #endif
         n = 1;