diff --git a/server/reds-private.h b/server/reds-private.h
index adc48ba5..920edc5c 100644
--- a/server/reds-private.h
+++ b/server/reds-private.h
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ struct RedsState {
     RedStatFile *stat_file;
 #endif
     int allow_multiple_clients;
+    bool late_initialization_done;
 
     /* Intermediate state for on going monitors config message from a single
      * client, being passed to the guest */
diff --git a/server/reds.c b/server/reds.c
index 9660476c..73c9ec20 100644
--- a/server/reds.c
+++ b/server/reds.c
@@ -1734,6 +1734,26 @@ static RedClient *reds_get_client(RedsState *reds)
     return reds->clients->data;
 }
 
+/* Performs late initializations steps.
+ * This should be called when a client connects */
+static void reds_late_initialization(RedsState *reds)
+{
+    RedCharDevice *dev;
+
+    // do only once
+    if (reds->late_initialization_done) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    // create stream channels for streaming devices
+    GLIST_FOREACH(reds->char_devices, RedCharDevice, dev) {
+        if (IS_STREAM_DEVICE(dev)) {
+            stream_device_create_channel(STREAM_DEVICE(dev));
+        }
+    }
+    reds->late_initialization_done = true;
+}
+
 static void
 red_channel_capabilities_init_from_link_message(RedChannelCapabilities *caps,
                                                 const SpiceLinkMess *link_mess)
@@ -1769,6 +1789,8 @@ static void reds_handle_main_link(RedsState *reds, RedLinkInfo *link)
     spice_debug("trace");
     spice_assert(reds->main_channel);
 
+    reds_late_initialization(reds);
+
     link_mess = link->link_mess;
     if (!reds->allow_multiple_clients) {
         reds_disconnect(reds);
diff --git a/server/stream-device.c b/server/stream-device.c
index fd73e784..6cf29d37 100644
--- a/server/stream-device.c
+++ b/server/stream-device.c
@@ -538,8 +538,8 @@ stream_device_finalize(GObject *object)
     dev->msg_pos = 0;
 }
 
-static void
-allocate_channels(StreamDevice *dev)
+void
+stream_device_create_channel(StreamDevice *dev)
 {
     if (dev->stream_channel) {
         return;
@@ -600,7 +600,7 @@ stream_device_port_event(RedCharDevice *char_dev, uint8_t event)
     // reset device and channel on close/open
     dev->opened = (event == SPICE_PORT_EVENT_OPENED);
     if (dev->opened) {
-        allocate_channels(dev);
+        stream_device_create_channel(dev);
     }
     dev->hdr_pos = 0;
     dev->msg_pos = 0;
diff --git a/server/stream-device.h b/server/stream-device.h
index eff6e870..f0a5b5c1 100644
--- a/server/stream-device.h
+++ b/server/stream-device.h
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@ typedef struct StreamDeviceClass StreamDeviceClass;
 GType stream_device_get_type(void) G_GNUC_CONST;
 StreamDevice *stream_device_connect(RedsState *reds, SpiceCharDeviceInstance *sin);
 
+/* Create channel for the streaming device.
+ * If the channel already exists the function does nothing.
+ */
+void stream_device_create_channel(StreamDevice *dev);
+
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* STREAM_DEVICE_H */