diff --git a/drivers/wifi/esp_at/esp.c b/drivers/wifi/esp_at/esp.c
index 203991900a25e36..0dfe0bfb9d43962 100644
--- a/drivers/wifi/esp_at/esp.c
+++ b/drivers/wifi/esp_at/esp.c
@@ -1606,6 +1606,14 @@ static int esp_init(const struct device *dev)
 		.hw_flow_control = DT_PROP(ESP_BUS, hw_flow_control),
 	};
 
+	/* The context must be registered before the serial port is initialised. */
+	data->mctx.driver_data = data;
+	ret = modem_context_register(&data->mctx);
+	if (ret < 0) {
+		LOG_ERR("Error registering modem context: %d", ret);
+		goto error;
+	}
+
 	ret = modem_iface_uart_init(&data->mctx.iface, &data->iface_data, &uart_config);
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		goto error;
@@ -1627,14 +1635,6 @@ static int esp_init(const struct device *dev)
 	}
 #endif
 
-	data->mctx.driver_data = data;
-
-	ret = modem_context_register(&data->mctx);
-	if (ret < 0) {
-		LOG_ERR("Error registering modem context: %d", ret);
-		goto error;
-	}
-
 	/* start RX thread */
 	k_thread_create(&esp_rx_thread, esp_rx_stack,
 			K_KERNEL_STACK_SIZEOF(esp_rx_stack),