diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.gardena/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/gardena/internal/GardenaSmartImpl.java b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.gardena/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/gardena/internal/GardenaSmartImpl.java
index 1f2e3d6ea..12dd5d8ab 100644
--- a/bundles/org.openhab.binding.gardena/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/gardena/internal/GardenaSmartImpl.java
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.binding.gardena/src/main/java/org/openhab/binding/gardena/internal/GardenaSmartImpl.java
@@ -111,19 +111,20 @@ public class GardenaSmartImpl implements GardenaSmart, GardenaSmartWebSocketList
         this.eventListener = eventListener;
         this.scheduler = scheduler;
 
+        String name = ThingWebClientUtil.buildWebClientConsumerName(uid, null);
+        httpClient = httpClientFactory.createHttpClient(name);
+        httpClient.setConnectTimeout(config.getConnectionTimeout() * 1000L);
+        httpClient.setIdleTimeout(httpClient.getConnectTimeout());
+
+        name = ThingWebClientUtil.buildWebClientConsumerName(uid, "ws-");
+        webSocketClient = webSocketFactory.createWebSocketClient(name);
+        webSocketClient.setConnectTimeout(config.getConnectionTimeout() * 1000L);
+        webSocketClient.setStopTimeout(3000);
+        webSocketClient.setMaxIdleTimeout(150000);
+
         logger.debug("Starting GardenaSmart");
         try {
-            String name = ThingWebClientUtil.buildWebClientConsumerName(uid, null);
-            httpClient = httpClientFactory.createHttpClient(name);
-            httpClient.setConnectTimeout(config.getConnectionTimeout() * 1000L);
-            httpClient.setIdleTimeout(httpClient.getConnectTimeout());
             httpClient.start();
-
-            name = ThingWebClientUtil.buildWebClientConsumerName(uid, "ws-");
-            webSocketClient = webSocketFactory.createWebSocketClient(name);
-            webSocketClient.setConnectTimeout(config.getConnectionTimeout() * 1000L);
-            webSocketClient.setStopTimeout(3000);
-            webSocketClient.setMaxIdleTimeout(150000);
             webSocketClient.start();
 
             // initially load access token