diff --git a/drivers/serial/serial_core.c b/drivers/serial/serial_core.c
index 3bb5d241dd40..0cf382b55d4b 100644
--- a/drivers/serial/serial_core.c
+++ b/drivers/serial/serial_core.c
@@ -2150,10 +2150,11 @@ uart_configure_port(struct uart_driver *drv, struct uart_state *state,
 
 		/*
 		 * Ensure that the modem control lines are de-activated.
+		 * keep the DTR setting that is set in uart_set_options()
 		 * We probably don't need a spinlock around this, but
 		 */
 		spin_lock_irqsave(&port->lock, flags);
-		port->ops->set_mctrl(port, 0);
+		port->ops->set_mctrl(port, port->mctrl & TIOCM_DTR);
 		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&port->lock, flags);
 
 		/*