diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.hue/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/hue/internal/handler/HueBridgeHandler.java b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.hue/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/hue/internal/handler/HueBridgeHandler.java
index c4baa76fe..0a9a577c9 100644
--- a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.hue/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/hue/internal/handler/HueBridgeHandler.java
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.hue/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/hue/internal/handler/HueBridgeHandler.java
@@ -685,6 +685,8 @@ public class HueBridgeHandler extends ConfigStatusBridgeHandler implements HueCl
                 hueBridge = new HueBridge(ip, hueBridgeConfig.getPort(), hueBridgeConfig.getProtocol(), scheduler);
                 hueBridge.setTimeout(5000);
 
+                updateStatus(ThingStatus.UNKNOWN);
+
                 // Try a first connection that will fail, then try to authenticate,
                 // and finally change the bridge status to ONLINE
                 initJob = scheduler.submit(new PollingRunnable() {