diff --git a/src/arch/x86/core/x86_uart.c b/src/arch/x86/core/x86_uart.c
index 7c3a01d6..e455775b 100644
--- a/src/arch/x86/core/x86_uart.c
+++ b/src/arch/x86/core/x86_uart.c
@@ -48,15 +48,22 @@ static uint16_t uart_base[] = {
  * @ret rc		Return status code
  */
 int uart_select ( struct uart *uart, unsigned int port ) {
-
-	/* Clear UART base */
-	uart->base = NULL;
+	int rc;
 
 	/* Set new UART base */
-	if ( port < ( sizeof ( uart_base ) / sizeof ( uart_base[0] ) ) ) {
-		uart->base = ( ( void * ) ( intptr_t ) uart_base[port] );
-		return 0;
-	} else {
-		return -ENODEV;
+	if ( port >= ( sizeof ( uart_base ) / sizeof ( uart_base[0] ) ) ) {
+		rc = -ENODEV;
+		goto err;
 	}
+	uart->base = ( ( void * ) ( intptr_t ) uart_base[port] );
+
+	/* Check that UART exists */
+	if ( ( rc = uart_exists ( uart ) ) != 0 )
+		goto err;
+
+	return 0;
+
+ err:
+	uart->base = NULL;
+	return rc;
 }
diff --git a/src/core/uart.c b/src/core/uart.c
index 77721484..b85fe076 100644
--- a/src/core/uart.c
+++ b/src/core/uart.c
@@ -79,6 +79,29 @@ void uart_flush ( struct uart *uart ) {
 	}
 }
 
+/**
+ * Check for existence of UART
+ *
+ * @v uart		UART
+ * @ret rc		Return status code
+ */
+int uart_exists ( struct uart *uart ) {
+
+	/* Fail if no UART port is defined */
+	if ( ! uart->base )
+		return -ENODEV;
+
+	/* Fail if UART scratch register seems not to be present */
+	uart_write ( uart, UART_SCR, 0x18 );
+	if ( uart_read ( uart, UART_SCR ) != 0x18 )
+		return -ENODEV;
+	uart_write ( uart, UART_SCR, 0xae );
+	if ( uart_read ( uart, UART_SCR ) != 0xae )
+		return -ENODEV;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /**
  * Initialise UART
  *
@@ -90,16 +113,11 @@ void uart_flush ( struct uart *uart ) {
 int uart_init ( struct uart *uart, unsigned int baud, uint8_t lcr ) {
 	uint8_t dlm;
 	uint8_t dll;
+	int rc;
 
 	/* Check for existence of UART */
-	if ( ! uart->base )
-		return -ENODEV;
-	uart_write ( uart, UART_SCR, 0x18 );
-	if ( uart_read ( uart, UART_SCR ) != 0x18 )
-		return -ENODEV;
-	uart_write ( uart, UART_SCR, 0xae );
-	if ( uart_read ( uart, UART_SCR ) != 0xae )
-		return -ENODEV;
+	if ( ( rc = uart_exists ( uart ) ) != 0 )
+		return rc;
 
 	/* Configure divisor and line control register, if applicable */
 	if ( ! lcr )
diff --git a/src/include/ipxe/uart.h b/src/include/ipxe/uart.h
index 122c79b1..c63eae61 100644
--- a/src/include/ipxe/uart.h
+++ b/src/include/ipxe/uart.h
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ static inline uint8_t uart_receive ( struct uart *uart ) {
 
 extern void uart_transmit ( struct uart *uart, uint8_t data );
 extern void uart_flush ( struct uart *uart );
+extern int uart_exists ( struct uart *uart );
 extern int uart_init ( struct uart *uart, unsigned int baud, uint8_t lcr );
 
 #endif /* _IPXE_UART_H */