diff --git a/src/fu-device-list.c b/src/fu-device-list.c
index 391b498e9..e68849ef3 100644
--- a/src/fu-device-list.c
+++ b/src/fu-device-list.c
@@ -161,6 +161,26 @@ fu_device_list_find_by_device (FuDeviceList *self, FuDevice *device)
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+/**
+ * fu_device_list_get_old:
+ * @self: A #FuDeviceList
+ * @device: A #FuDevice
+ *
+ * Returns the old device associated with the currently active device.
+ *
+ * Returns: (transfer none): the device, or %NULL if not found
+ *
+ * Since: 1.0.3
+ **/
+FuDevice *
+fu_device_list_get_old (FuDeviceList *self, FuDevice *device)
+{
+	FuDeviceItem *item = fu_device_list_find_by_device (self, device);
+	if (item == NULL)
+		return NULL;
+	return item->device_old;
+}
+
 static FuDeviceItem *
 fu_device_list_find_by_guids (FuDeviceList *self, GPtrArray *guids)
 {
diff --git a/src/fu-device-list.h b/src/fu-device-list.h
index ce42af107..157bda129 100644
--- a/src/fu-device-list.h
+++ b/src/fu-device-list.h
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ void		 fu_device_list_remove			(FuDeviceList	*self,
 							 FuDevice	*device);
 GPtrArray	*fu_device_list_get_all			(FuDeviceList	*self);
 GPtrArray	*fu_device_list_get_active		(FuDeviceList	*self);
+FuDevice	*fu_device_list_get_old			(FuDeviceList	*self,
+							 FuDevice	*device);
 FuDevice	*fu_device_list_find_by_id		(FuDeviceList	*self,
 							 const gchar	*device_id,
 							 GError		**error);
diff --git a/src/fu-engine.c b/src/fu-engine.c
index f522419c3..118ddfdbf 100644
--- a/src/fu-engine.c
+++ b/src/fu-engine.c
@@ -176,12 +176,27 @@ fu_engine_status_notify_cb (FuDevice *device, GParamSpec *pspec, FuEngine *self)
 }
 
 static void
-fu_engine_device_added_cb (FuDeviceList *device_list, FuDevice *device, FuEngine *self)
+fu_engine_watch_device (FuEngine *self, FuDevice *device)
 {
+	FuDevice *device_old = fu_device_list_get_old (self->device_list, device);
+	if (device_old != NULL) {
+		g_signal_handlers_disconnect_by_func (device_old,
+						      fu_engine_progress_notify_cb,
+						      self);
+		g_signal_handlers_disconnect_by_func (device_old,
+						      fu_engine_status_notify_cb,
+						      self);
+	}
 	g_signal_connect (device, "notify::progress",
 			  G_CALLBACK (fu_engine_progress_notify_cb), self);
 	g_signal_connect (device, "notify::status",
 			  G_CALLBACK (fu_engine_status_notify_cb), self);
+}
+
+static void
+fu_engine_device_added_cb (FuDeviceList *device_list, FuDevice *device, FuEngine *self)
+{
+	fu_engine_watch_device (self, device);
 	g_signal_emit (self, signals[SIGNAL_DEVICE_ADDED], 0, device);
 }
 
@@ -195,6 +210,7 @@ fu_engine_device_removed_cb (FuDeviceList *device_list, FuDevice *device, FuEngi
 static void
 fu_engine_device_changed_cb (FuDeviceList *device_list, FuDevice *device, FuEngine *self)
 {
+	fu_engine_watch_device (self, device);
 	fu_engine_emit_device_changed (self, device);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/fu-self-test.c b/src/fu-self-test.c
index 48d86c73a..c7a44adc4 100644
--- a/src/fu-self-test.c
+++ b/src/fu-self-test.c
@@ -422,6 +422,10 @@ fu_device_list_compatible_func (void)
 	device = g_ptr_array_index (devices_all, 1);
 	g_assert_cmpstr (fu_device_get_id (device), ==,
 			 "99249eb1bd9ef0b6e192b271a8cb6a3090cfec7a");
+
+	/* verify we can get the old device from the new device */
+	device = fu_device_list_get_old (device_list, device2);
+	g_assert (device == device1);
 }
 
 static void