diff --git a/scd/apdu.c b/scd/apdu.c
index 6fc62aa00..82d53b1fa 100644
--- a/scd/apdu.c
+++ b/scd/apdu.c
@@ -3127,7 +3127,7 @@ apdu_open_one_reader (const char *portstr)
 }
 
 int
-apdu_open_reader (struct dev_list *dl)
+apdu_open_reader (struct dev_list *dl, int app_empty)
 {
   int slot;
 
@@ -3177,6 +3177,7 @@ apdu_open_reader (struct dev_list *dl)
           /* Check identity by BAI against already opened HANDLEs.  */
           for (slot = 0; slot < MAX_READER; slot++)
             if (reader_table[slot].used
+                && reader_table[slot].ccid.handle
                 && ccid_compare_BAI (reader_table[slot].ccid.handle, bai))
               break;
 
@@ -3201,12 +3202,19 @@ apdu_open_reader (struct dev_list *dl)
             dl->idx++;
         }
 
-      slot = -1;
+      /* Not found.  Try one for PC/SC, only when it's the initial scan.  */
+      if (app_empty && dl->idx == dl->idx_max)
+        {
+          dl->idx++;
+          slot = apdu_open_one_reader (dl->portstr);
+        }
+      else
+        slot = -1;
     }
   else
 #endif
     { /* PC/SC readers.  */
-      if (dl->idx == 0)
+      if (app_empty && dl->idx == 0)
         {
           dl->idx++;
           slot = apdu_open_one_reader (dl->portstr);
diff --git a/scd/apdu.h b/scd/apdu.h
index 473def518..6751e8c9b 100644
--- a/scd/apdu.h
+++ b/scd/apdu.h
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ gpg_error_t apdu_dev_list_start (const char *portstr, struct dev_list **l_p);
 void apdu_dev_list_finish (struct dev_list *l);
 
 /* Note, that apdu_open_reader returns no status word but -1 on error. */
-int apdu_open_reader (struct dev_list *l);
+int apdu_open_reader (struct dev_list *l, int app_empty);
 int apdu_open_remote_reader (const char *portstr,
                              const unsigned char *cookie, size_t length,
                              int (*readfnc) (void *opaque,
diff --git a/scd/app.c b/scd/app.c
index 5b8da1c38..7e728705a 100644
--- a/scd/app.c
+++ b/scd/app.c
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ select_application (ctrl_t ctrl, const char *name, app_t *r_app,
           int slot;
           int periodical_check_needed_this;
 
-          slot = apdu_open_reader (l);
+          slot = apdu_open_reader (l, !app_top);
           if (slot < 0)
             break;